Opening arguments began on August 18, 2026, in a federal trial in which four U.S. states accuse Meta of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children while hiding the mental health risks.
The states allege Meta knew its platforms could hook young users and lied about the dangers, according to NPR. The phrase "Profits won" was spoken during court proceedings, capturing the states' central accusation that the company prioritized revenue over children's wellbeing.
Meta pushed back in court, arguing that social media addiction does not exist, BBC News reported.
NPR described the case as a landmark trial over children and social media.