The long-awaited trial between Meta and the state of Tennessee kicked off Monday, with state attorneys alleging the social media giant knowingly prioritized profits over teen mental health. Lawyers for Tennessee told a Nashville jury that Meta - owner of Instagram and Facebook - repeatedly ignored internal research flagging how features like autoplay, notifications, and infinite scroll fueled compulsive use, leading to eating disorders, depression, and self-harm among teenagers. The state argued these features were deliberately designed to keep teens glued to Instagram for maximum ad revenue.

Meta's attorney countered that the company has been transparent about risks and actively works to identify and fix problems, pointing to tools that limit problematic use and efforts to empower parents and teachers. “It takes a village,” said Meta lawyer Kevin Huff, perhaps unaware of the irony in a billion-dollar corporation invoking small-town community spirit.

The lawsuit, filed by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, seeks financial penalties and a court order forcing Instagram to modify features deemed harmful to teen mental health. If the jury finds Meta liable, a second phase will determine damages. This is one of 42 state cases against Meta, following a $375 million loss in New Mexico in March. The next big showdown? A federal trial in Oakland next month targeting Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap, brought by 29 states.