TV · Radio · Podcasts
← Newshour

Opening of Meta trial on social media addiction claims

BBC World Service· Aug 18, 2026· 47m 29s

A landmark trial has begun in California with the tech giant Meta accused of deliberately making Facebook and Instagram addictive to children. We'll hear the case for the prosecution and the defence. Also on the programme: a court in Damascus sentences to death a cousin of the deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad; and how short-sighted tree-shrews could be a big help to humans. (Photo: A woman holds a smartphone with a Facebook logo in front of a displayed logo for Meta in this illustration picture

Now playing

Opening of Meta trial on social media addiction claims

🇬🇧English→🇬🇧English
Sample transcript — click Live captions above to run Whisper on the actual audio in your browser.

  1. Welcome to the program. I'm your host.

    Welcome to the program. I'm your host.

    0:00

  2. Today we look at the major stories shaping the news cycle.

    Today we look at the major stories shaping the news cycle.

    0:04

  3. We start in Europe, where leaders met in Brussels.

    We start in Europe, where leaders met in Brussels.

    0:09

  4. The summit focused on energy policy and migration.

    The summit focused on energy policy and migration.

    0:14

  5. Reporting from the ground, our correspondent has more.

    Reporting from the ground, our correspondent has more.

    0:19

  6. Thank you. The mood here was tense but constructive.

    Thank you. The mood here was tense but constructive.

    0:24