The Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and United States Courthouse, Northern District of California, at 1301 Clay St. in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Kiley Russell/Bay City News)

OAKLAND, CA., 8/17/2026 — Opening arguments are set to begin Tuesday in Oakland in a federal case brought by the state of California and dozens of other states alleging the technology giant Meta Inc. created social media algorithms designed to keep young users hooked at the expense of their mental health.

The plaintiffs have framed the case as a major effort to address what they say are harmful effects of addictive products designed to capture users’ attention by, among other tactics, collecting undisclosed data and training it to prolong engagement on social media apps such as Instagram.

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Thomas grew up in San Diego in the late 20th century and later earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies from CSUMB. He spent five years as a local broadcast journalist on California’s Central...