Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Meta faces 29 states in landmark youth social media trial
Facebook and Instagram are two very popular apps that many children use.
Many states in the United States say the company that made them, Meta, made the apps extra fun and tricky on purpose so kids would stay on them for a long time.
The states also say Meta collected and used children's information without following the rules.
A federal court in California is now holding a big trial about these complaints.
The trial could last about seven weeks.
The leader of the company and the leader of Instagram are expected to come and answer questions.
The states want Meta to change its apps, like adding time limits for young users and stopping endless scrolling.
Meta says it cares about young people and disagrees with what the states say.
A judge will listen to both sides and make a decision when the trial ends.
Meta Platforms faces a coalition of 29 state attorneys general in a California federal court trial over claims it engineered Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children.
The states allege Meta misled consumers about platform safety and illegally collected and used children's data, while Meta warns potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion.
Jury selection began Wednesday in Oakland, with opening statements set for August 18 and the trial expected to last seven weeks.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are expected to testify before US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
The states are seeking nationwide age restrictions, elimination of infinite scroll and notifications, and deletion of algorithms and AI models built with children's data.
- Who
- Meta Platforms, sued by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general led by Colorado, Kentucky, California and New Jersey; US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presides.
- What
- A landmark federal trial over claims Meta engineered Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children, misled consumers about safety, and illegally collected and used children's data; it is one of more than 3,000 related federal lawsuits against Meta, Snap, Alphabet and ByteDance.
- When
- Jury selection began Wednesday, opening statements start August 18, and the trial is expected to last seven weeks, concluding in October.
- Where
- US District Court in Oakland, California.
- Why
- States allege Meta designed its platforms to keep young users hooked and misled consumers about safety, following whistleblower Frances Haugen's 2021 disclosures and a multistate investigation.
State Attorneys General
Meta Platforms
Addictive design
State Attorneys General
States allege Meta engineered Facebook and Instagram to keep children hooked, misled consumers about safety, and illegally collected and used children's data.
Meta Platforms
Meta strongly disagrees, saying evidence will show its longstanding commitment to supporting young people, and argues 'social media addiction' is not a recognized psychiatric condition.
Court-ordered platform changes
State Attorneys General
States want nationwide court orders for age restrictions, deletion of algorithms and AI models built with children's data, removal of infinite scroll and notifications, and well-being-first content ranking.
Meta Platforms
Meta disputes the need for such dictates, saying it has listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to address the issues that matter most.
Stakes of the case
State Attorneys General
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport says 'our kids are not data points to be monetized,' and 61% of Americans surveyed say social media companies need firmer oversight.
Meta Platforms
Meta warns potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion, near its $1.5 trillion market cap, and says the flood of litigation could seriously impact its business and financial results.
- Trial location
- US District Court, Oakland, California
- States suing
- 29, led by Colorado, Kentucky, California and New Jersey
- Expected duration
- Seven weeks, with a decision expected in October
- Opening statements
- August 18
- Expected to testify
- Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri
- Damages cited by Meta
- Up to $1.4 trillion
- Recent related ruling
- $567 million judgment by a New Mexico judge
- Public opinion (Reuters/Ipsos)
- 85% say social media can be addictive for children
