Attorneys for the state of Tennessee told jurors in Nashville on Monday that executives at Meta Platforms overlooked their own internal research showing that Instagram could harm teenagers as the company pursued higher engagement and advertising exposure among young users.
During opening statements in a seven-week trial held in Tennessee state court, prosecutors argued that Meta researchers repeatedly identified troubling patterns among teenage users, including compulsive behavior and links to eating disorders, depression and self-harm. Despite those internal warnings, the state said, Meta retained features such as autoplay, notifications and infinite scroll - elements prosecutors said were designed to extend time spent on Instagram and increase ad impressions.
The lawsuit, filed by the Tennessee Attorney General’s office under Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, asks the court to impose financial penalties and to require changes to Instagram that the state says would reduce harm to teenagers’ mental health. If jurors find Meta liable, the case will move into a second phase before Chancellor Russell Perkins, who will consider whether to levy monetary penalties and order modifications to Instagram to make it safer for adolescent users.
Tom Cartmell, who presented opening remarks for the state, emphasized the role of notifications in driving repeated engagement. While displaying the familiar ping of a smartphone alert for the jury, Cartmell argued that unpredictable rewards like notifications stimulate dopamine-driven responses that can promote addictive patterns, particularly in developing adolescent brains.
Cartmell showed jurors a 2017 internal document in which Meta product managers stated that features such as notifications and infinite scroll "are inherently at odds with well-being" and suggested the company should warn the public. The state’s lawyer told the jury that the company never issued that warning.
On behalf of Meta, Kevin Huff countered that the documents cited by the state illustrate the company’s efforts to identify problems so they can be addressed. Huff told jurors that Meta has been forthright about the risks teens can face on Instagram and about the volume of dangerous content it detects, and that the company has implemented tools aimed at limiting problematic use.
Huff also urged jurors to consider broader questions of responsibility, arguing that societal problems such as suicide, child exploitation and addiction cannot be attributed to one company alone. "We think the evidence will show that Meta is doing its part and empowering others to do their part, because protecting teens online is a shared responsibility. It takes a village," he said in opening remarks.
The Tennessee case is part of a large wave of litigation over social media platforms’ impact on children. Nearly every U.S. state has filed claims against Meta related to the effects of its platforms on minors. More than two dozen of those state lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in San Francisco, while other states have pursued their own actions in separate courts. In addition to state actions, Meta and other social media companies face thousands of suits from individuals and school districts.
Tennessee’s suit is the second state-level case to reach a jury. Earlier this year, a jury in New Mexico found Meta liable and ordered the company to pay $375 million; a judge in that case is weighing additional financial penalties as well as directives to change Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp within the state.
Courtroom presentation and evidence highlighted by prosecutors
Prosecutors used multimedia presentation techniques in opening statements, including playing sounds familiar to smartphone users, to underline the argument that product features were intentionally engineered to encourage repeated checking and extended sessions. The state highlighted internal research findings and statements by product teams to bolster its contention that Meta understood how its design choices affected teenagers.
Meta’s defense emphasis
Meta’s defense focused on the company’s internal review processes and efforts to develop mitigations and educational resources for parents and teachers. The defense framed online safety as a collective responsibility and asked jurors to weigh societal factors alongside corporate conduct when considering liability.
Case process going forward
If the jury determines Meta is liable, the trial will advance to a remedial stage where the court will consider specific penalties and potential injunctive relief aimed at altering Instagram’s operations for teenagers. Chancellor Russell Perkins will oversee that phase and make determinations on monetary and structural remedies.
The trial is scheduled to continue over the coming weeks, and jurors will hear more detailed testimony from both the state and Meta as the case progresses.