Massachusetts’ highest court is currently reviewing a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, accusing Meta of deliberately designing addictive features on Facebook and Instagram to target teenagers. The state claims Meta’s tools—such as incessant notifications and endless scrolling—were intentionally crafted to exploit adolescents’ susceptibility to addiction, aiming to increase user engagement and profit. The lawsuit focuses specifically on these design features rather than content moderation or algorithms. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d5d12197563a92796821b56a20b7d89b?utm_source=openai))
In court, Meta’s attorney argued that the company’s actions are protected under the First Amendment, as there is no allegation of false or fraudulent speech. However, some justices expressed concern that the issue centers more on manipulative engagement mechanisms than on speech content. Justice Dalila Wendland and Justice Scott Kafker pointed out that the addictive design seems aimed purely at retaining users’ attention, regardless of the content. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d5d12197563a92796821b56a20b7d89b?utm_source=openai))
This lawsuit is part of broader legal challenges against Meta, including a 2023 joint federal lawsuit by 33 states over collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. Investigations, including a 2021 Wall Street Journal report and a 2025 whistleblower statement, highlight Meta’s awareness of harmful effects on teenagers’ mental health, especially among teen girls, and accuse the company of failing to implement meaningful safety reforms. Meta maintains that the allegations misrepresent its commitment to teen safety. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d5d12197563a92796821b56a20b7d89b?utm_source=openai))
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how social media platforms design their features and address concerns about user addiction, particularly among younger audiences.