Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Meta Teen Addiction Trial Examines Research and Influencer Outreach
Twenty-nine U.S. states are suing Meta over how its apps affect teenagers.
The states say Meta knew some teens were becoming addicted to Instagram and other platforms.
They argue that the company kept important research hidden and continued using harmful features.
Meta says the evidence is incomplete and taken out of context.
The company also says it is trying to remove younger users from its services.
A report says Meta invited parent influencers to an Instagram safety event in Australia.
The influencers then shared Meta’s messages about parental controls with their followers.
The trial will examine what Meta knew and how it promoted its safety efforts.
A lawsuit brought by 29 U.S. states accuses Meta of concealing research about teen addiction to its platforms.
State lawyers say Meta knew Instagram could be addictive but prioritized profits over young users’ well-being.
Meta’s lawyer says the documents were cherry-picked and that the company is working to remove younger users.
The federal trial in Oakland, California, is expected to last six to eight weeks.
A report says Meta used parental influencers and more than 40 global events to promote its teen-safety tools.
- Who
- Attorneys general from 29 U.S. states are suing Meta; Meta is defending itself.
- What
- The lawsuit alleges that Meta concealed research on teen addiction and continued using features the states consider harmful.
- When
- The trial began Tuesday and is expected to last six to eight weeks; Meta says it has held more than 40 safety events since 2024.
- Where
- The trial is taking place in federal court in Oakland, California; the influencer event described in the report took place in Australia.
- Why
- The states seek to hold Meta accountable for allegedly prioritizing financial gains over young users’ health and safety.
State Attorneys General and Critics
Meta
What Meta knew about addiction
State Attorneys General and Critics
The states say internal documents show Meta knew teenagers were hooked on Instagram and that the company concealed or minimized research about the problem.
Meta
Meta’s lawyer says the documents were cherry-picked and presented without their full context.
Business priorities and safety
State Attorneys General and Critics
State lawyers argue Meta refused to abandon known harmful features because it wanted to maximize financial gains.
Meta
Meta says it is taking meaningful action to remove younger users from its platforms.
Influencer outreach
State Attorneys General and Critics
The Tech Transparency Project says Meta used parental influencers to counter negative publicity and promote company talking points about safety tools.
Meta
Meta says influencers are trusted local voices who can help parents understand its teen-safety tools and that its approach strikes the right balance.
- Defendant
- Meta
- Plaintiffs
- Attorneys general from 29 U.S. states
- Court location
- Federal court in Oakland, California
- Expected trial length
- Six to eight weeks
- Central allegation
- Meta concealed internal research about teen addiction and continued using allegedly harmful features
- Influencer program
- Instagram Safety Camp in Australia
- Global outreach
- Meta says it has held more than 40 teen-safety events worldwide since 2024