Archive · 21 Aug 2026
29 States Seek Instagram Feature Removals and Algorithm Deletion
Twenty-nine states are suing Meta over how Instagram and Facebook affect young users.
They say some features are designed to keep children using the apps for longer.
The features they challenge include endless scrolling, videos that play automatically, disappearing Stories and beauty filters.
The states also say Meta collected information from some children under 13 without getting parents’ permission.
They want Meta to remove that information and computer systems trained with it.
Meta says the states have presented its products and research unfairly.
The company points to new Teen Accounts and tools that let parents set time limits.
A judge, not the jury, will make the final decision.
The trial could affect many other lawsuits involving social media and young people.
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are representing a coalition of 29 states in a federal case against Meta.
The states want Meta to remove features including infinite scroll, autoplay, Stories, beauty filters and engagement-optimized algorithms.
They allege Meta collected data from under-13 users without parental consent and seek deletion of that data and models trained on it.
Meta denies misrepresenting risks, says the states cherry-picked evidence, and points to Instagram Teen Accounts and parental controls.
Eight jurors will provide an advisory finding, while Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide liability, penalties and remedies.
- Who
- California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are bringing the case for a coalition of 29 states against Meta.
- What
- The states seek penalties and court orders requiring feature removals, age restrictions, data deletion and destruction of models trained on improperly collected children’s data.
- When
- The trial opened on August 18 and is expected to last six to eight weeks, with a verdict anticipated around October.
- Where
- The trial is taking place in a federal courtroom in Oakland, United States.
- Why
- The states allege Meta designed its platforms to encourage compulsive use by minors and collected data from under-13 users without parental consent.
States’ allegations and requested remedies
Meta’s defense and proposed safeguards
Effect of product features
States’ allegations and requested remedies
The states argue that infinite scroll, autoplay, Stories and other features are deliberate design choices that encourage compulsive use and make it harder for young users to stop.
Meta’s defense and proposed safeguards
Meta says the features are ordinary products used by billions of adults and that the states have worked backward from alleged harms to blame design choices.
Evidence of harm
States’ allegations and requested remedies
The states say Meta knew from its own research that its platforms harmed young users, encouraged appearance comparison and downplayed the risks while optimizing for engagement.
Meta’s defense and proposed safeguards
Meta argues that internal documents and comments were cherry-picked and that correlation between adolescent distress and social media use does not establish the required causation.
Children’s data and remedies
States’ allegations and requested remedies
The states allege Meta allowed under-13 users onto its platforms without parental consent and want the company to delete improperly collected data and models trained on it.
Meta’s defense and proposed safeguards
Meta’s position in the article focuses on defending its platforms and policies, including Instagram Teen Accounts and parental controls that restrict contacts and allow time limits.
- States involved
- Four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—are trying the case for a coalition of 29 states.
- Features challenged
- The states identify infinite scroll, autoplay, ephemeral content such as Stories, beauty filters and engagement-optimized algorithms.
- Requested data remedy
- The states seek deletion of data collected from under-13 users and algorithms or models trained on that data.
- Damages disputed
- The states have cited roughly $193 billion, with about $200 billion indicated as more likely; $1.4 trillion is Meta’s theoretical maximum calculation.
- Judge
- Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide liability, penalties and remedies.
- Jury role
- Eight jurors were selected, but their finding is advisory rather than binding.
- Expected duration
- The trial is expected to run six to eight weeks, with a verdict anticipated around October.