A coalition of US state attorneys general opened a major antitrust case against Meta this week, demanding sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook's design and business practices targeting minors. The lawsuit centers on Meta's algorithmic feed systems, which states argue deliberately addict young users through engagement-maximizing tactics that prioritize watch time over safety.
The states argue Meta knowingly designed both platforms to exploit psychological vulnerabilities in children and teens, then concealed internal research documenting harm from social media use. The company's dominant market position, particularly Instagram's control over photo-sharing and Facebook's grip on social networking, allowed Meta to lock young users into these addictive systems without meaningful competition or choice.
State prosecutors want Meta to disable algorithmic recommendations for users under 18, implement strict time-limit features with real enforcement, and remove engagement metrics like like counts that fuel comparison and anxiety. They also seek to unwind Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing these purchases eliminated competitors that might have offered safer alternatives.
Meta generates roughly 97 percent of its revenue from advertising, a model fundamentally dependent on maximizing user engagement and data collection. Younger users represent Meta's highest-growth demographic and most valuable advertising segment, making youth engagement central to the company's business strategy.
The trial unfolds as federal regulators intensify scrutiny of Big Tech's impact on child development. The FTC has investigated Meta's youth privacy practices, while other state attorneys general have pursued separate cases targeting TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat. Meta faces similar litigation in other jurisdictions and maintains the case mischaracterizes its platforms' design and safety measures.
The outcome could reshape how Meta operates Instagram and Facebook, potentially forcing the company to prioritize child protection over engagement-driven profitability for the first time.