Hook, hold, harvest and hide: Meta's alleged strategy laid out in first week

California and 28 other states opened a landmark trial against Meta on Tuesday, accusing the company of using a "hook, hold, harvest, hide" strategy to addict users—especially children—by designing addictive platforms, collecting data without parental consent, and concealing the truth from the public. The lawsuit alleges Meta violated federal child privacy laws and state consumer protection laws, with potential damages reaching $200 billion and possible mandatory changes to how its social media platforms operate. Meta has denied all allegations, claiming it provides tools to address social media struggles and prohibits users under 13 from registering for accounts.