Massachusetts high court hears Meta addiction suit
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard oral arguments on Dec. 5 in Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s 2024 lawsuit alleging Meta designed Facebook and Instagram features to addict teens. State Solicitor David Kravitz said the case targets engagement tools like notifications, while Meta’s attorney Mark Mosier argued the claims would penalize traditional publishing functions protected by the First Amendment; justices’ questions focused on attention‑driving features rather than content moderation. The case comes amid broader state and federal litigation accusing Meta of knowingly deploying addictive design elements for young users.
📌 Key Facts
- Oral arguments held Dec. 5, 2025 before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Boston.
- State Solicitor David Kravitz said the claims focus on Meta’s tools and notifications that encourage teen addiction, not moderation of content.
- Meta counsel Mark Mosier contended the suit implicates First Amendment‑protected publishing functions; justices Dalila Wendlandt and Scott Kafker probed the role of incessant notifications and engagement design.
📊 Relevant Data
41% of teens with the highest social media use rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor, compared with 23% of those with the lowest use.
Teens are spending nearly 5 hours daily on social media. Here are the findings — American Psychological Association
Children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Social Media and Youth Mental Health — HHS.gov
Girls more often than boys say that they are highly concerned about teen mental health (42% vs. 28%).
Teens, Social Media and Mental Health — Pew Research Center
Substantial racial and ethnic differences were observed in US adolescent mental health service use after the COVID-19 pandemic, with lower use among racial and ethnic minority groups compared to White adolescents.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among US Adolescents After the COVID-19 Pandemic — JAMA Network Open
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is significantly associated with social media addiction among adolescents, with factors such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and self-esteem contributing to this relationship.
According to a 2025 study, 40% of participating children showed addictive use of social media, which affects their mental health.
Teens' addictive use of social media affects mental health — Star Tribune