Meta Faces Landmark Child Safety Trial in California

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presides over proceedings where billions in damages are sought.

Meta faces potential fines reaching $1.4 trillion and demands for significant operational overhauls, including tighter age restrictions and a ban on features like infinite scroll.

The states claim Meta knew its platforms posed dangers and reportedly misrepresented their risks; Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify during the trial.

Paul Schmidt serves as a lead attorney for Meta in this trial, while Megan O'Neill leads for California.

Meta denies all allegations made against it.

The legal strategy employed in these lawsuits reportedly draws from the approach used against tobacco companies in the 1990s.

A landmark U.S. government case against major tobacco companies, including Philip Morris, previously resulted in a $14 billion settlement over 10 years, modified from an original demand of $289 billion.

A previous bellwether case reportedly found social media companies, including YouTube, liable for designing addictive products that harmed a young claimant, resulting in a $6 million award.

Meta has also been ordered to pay $567 million to New Mexico in a similar case.

The company operates primarily as a digital advertising entity, its business relying on user engagement driven by its recommender algorithm.

This trial reflects a wider international crackdown on children's access to social media by nations including Australia, Britain, and EU members.

Britain plans to approve a ban on social media for under-16s by Christmas, with the measure set to take effect around Spring 2027.

China has already implemented a 'minor mode' for device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to limit screen time for minors.