The $1 trillion social media addiction trial has begun — is the disorder real?

Social media apps like Facebook and Instagram are addictive! At least that’s what four states proclaimed in a monster lawsuit that accuses Meta of fostering unsafe platforms for young users’ mental health and well-being.

Together, the states seek $1.4 trillion in damages — nearly enough to bankrupt the entire company, while lawmakers get even more fuel to ram down restrictive age verification laws on Americans.

The company faces an uphill battle.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As the trial now gets underway, all eyes are on two simple questions.

Is social media addiction medically real? And does that matter in court?

The lawsuit

In early July, Meta revealed that four blue states banded together to stick it to the company and its two top social