A landmark US trial has begun where prosecutors accuse Meta and Google of deliberately engineering addictive features in their platforms. The jury was told that these tech giants designed their products to maximize user engagement through psychological manipulation techniques.

This case represents one of the most significant legal challenges to the business models of major tech companies. The prosecution argues that features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and notification systems were intentionally crafted to exploit human psychology and create dependency.

The trial could set important precedents for how social media and search platforms operate. If successful, it might force companies to redesign their products and potentially face substantial penalties for practices that prioritize engagement over user wellbeing.