Meta Faces 7-Week Trial Over Instagram Addiction Allegations in Tennessee

The state of Tennessee has launched a new trial targeting Instagram’s design, accusing Meta of creating features that encourage compulsive use among teenagers and hiding internal information about potential harms linked to the platform. The case is expected to last approximately seven weeks and includes demands beyond financial penalties, such as compelling the company to modify certain in-app features.

According to a Reuters report, Tennessee authorities allege that Meta violated consumer protection laws by designing a product that promotes repeated use among adolescents and providing misleading information about Instagram’s safety. The lawsuit highlights specific features under scrutiny, including the autoplay function, Reels videos, consecutive notifications, and content that disappears after a set time. The state claims internal studies revealed possible negative effects on teenagers, and that Mark Zuckerberg received warnings from some employees. Meta, however, asserts that it has developed age-appropriate settings and tools that give parents greater control over their children’s usage.

The jury will first determine whether Meta breached state law. If found guilty, the case will proceed to sentencing and required platform adjustments. The legislation allows for fines up to $1,000 per violation. This trial follows a prior ruling awarding New Mexico $375 million in damages. Meta also faces another trial scheduled to begin on July 27, as well as a federal lawsuit in August involving 29 states focused on protecting children’s data and safeguarding younger users.