Consumer
Meta trial begins; prosecutors seek ~$200B penalty for hooking children

A coalition of US states launched a landmark trial against Meta, claiming the company deliberately designed addictive features on Facebook and Instagram targeting children, with prosecutors seeking around $200 billion in penalties. For builders: engagement metrics tied to child retention are now explicitly in legal/reputational crosshairs—disclosure and intent trails matter more than DAU growth.
Source: The Hindu Tech ↗
🎧 This story is in the 19 August 2026 episode — Arjun & Meera