I picked up my phone last week to check one notification. Forty minutes later I was three scrolls deep into something I couldn't even name, and the notification I opened it for was long gone. That's not a willpower problem. That's a feature working exactly as designed to addict its users, and this week a federal courtroom in Oakland is finally putting that design decision on trial.
Opening arguments began Tuesday in a case brought by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general against Meta, alleging the company built Instagram and Facebook features that hook kids and teens on purpose, in violation of COPPA and various consumer protection laws. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, fresh off a nearly one billion dollar win against Meta in his own state, told CNBC the outcome in California could be "astronomical." Meta's own attorneys have floated exposure as high as 1.4 trillion dollars, while the states argue something closer to 200 billion is more realistic.
"You could wake up with a headline judgment that is, as I've said, astronomical."
- Raul Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General
Astronomical is the right word, and honestly, it's overdue. When a company builds infinite scroll, autoplay, and engagement algorithms specifically to keep young users hooked, and internal documents allegedly show they knew the harm, that's not an accident of good product design. That's intent. A judgment at this scale sends a signal that intent has consequences.
Design choices are ethical choices
Here's the part that matters beyond Meta: every product decision that keeps someone on a screen longer is a choice, not a neutral outcome. Infinite scroll didn't have to exist. Autoplay didn't have to exist. Someone decided that keeping attention mattered more than letting it go. If you build websites, apps, or anything with a user on the other end, you make these calls too, just at a smaller scale. The question this trial raises for every builder isn't "is this legal," it's "would I be comfortable explaining this decision to the person it affects."
What this means if you handle any user data
For nonprofits, wellness practices, and mission-driven organizations, the practical takeaway is sharper than the ethics conversation. If your site or platform touches anyone under 13, COPPA isn't optional and it isn't forgiving. That means real consent flows, real data minimization, and no dark patterns dressed up as convenience. Getting privacy right before you're forced to is cheaper than getting it right after a subpoena.
Build with restraint
Meta's trial is a reminder that growth built on compulsion eventually meets a jury. You don't need infinite scroll to build something people value. You need something worth coming back to on its own merits, not because the design won't let go.
Building or auditing a site that handles user data, especially where minors might be involved? TeazMedia designs with privacy and restraint built in from the start, not bolted on after a headline. Let's talk about your project.