US states press case against Meta in trial over alleged child social media addiction harms

A multi-state US federal jury trial targeting Meta's alleged addictive design and under-13 data collection raises material legal and regulatory risk. Plaintiffs seek damages potentially up to $200bn and product-design changes, which could pressure engagement metrics, compliance costs, and long-term monetization. The trial's prominence (expected testimony from Zuckerberg and others) elevates headline volatility and may increase perceived risk across large-cap social media and ad-tech exposures.