Tennessee has initiated legal proceedings against Meta, alleging that the company prioritised profit from teenage users over their wellbeing despite possessing internal research demonstrating platform harms. State attorneys argued that Meta engineers identified specific design features—including autoplay functionality, push notifications, and infinite scrolling—as psychologically manipulative mechanisms that foster addiction and contribute to mental health issues including depression and eating disorders. The state contends that even though Meta's own researchers raised these concerns, the company maintained these engagement-driving features without implementing protective modifications.

Meta's legal team countered that the company has consistently operated with transparency regarding potential platform risks and has devoted resources to identifying and addressing harmful content and usage patterns. This seven-week trial represents one of 42 concurrent state-level actions against Meta and follows the company's significant judicial defeat in New Mexico, where a jury imposed $375 million in penalties for child harm. Additional litigation is progressing through federal courts, with a scheduled trial in California involving multiple social media platforms and attorneys general from 29 states.