Meta is facing one of its biggest legal battles yet as a major U.S. trial begins over claims that Instagram and Facebook were designed in ways that can keep children and teenagers hooked to social media.
The case involves a bipartisan group of 29 U.S. states and focuses on how Meta operates its two largest social platforms, especially for younger users. The trial could have a major impact on the company because the states are not only seeking financial penalties but also changes to how Facebook and Instagram work.
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the state-level part of the trial in federal court in Oakland, California. At the same time, federal privacy claims involving the wider group of 29 states are also being considered.
The states accuse Meta of creating and using features that encourage young people to spend more time on Instagram and Facebook. They argue that parts of the platforms were designed to increase engagement even when Meta knew there could be risks for children and teenagers.
The lawsuit also focuses on privacy. The states claim Meta collected or used personal information from some children without properly obtaining parental permission, potentially violating U.S. child privacy rules.
Meta denies the accusations. The company says it has invested heavily in tools and protections designed to make its platforms safer for teenagers. Meta also argues that the states have not provided enough evidence to prove that its actions directly caused the harms described in the lawsuit.
The trial is unusual because an eight-person jury will hear the case but will act in an advisory role. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately make the legal decision. The proceedings are expected to continue for several weeks, and senior Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, are expected to testify.
The financial risks could also be significant. Meta has warned that penalties under the states’ approach could potentially become extremely large. The attorneys general have discussed penalties that could run into hundreds of billions of dollars, although the final amount would depend on what claims succeed and how the court calculates any penalties.
Money is only one part of the case. The states are also asking for major changes to Meta’s platforms. Possible measures could include stronger age restrictions, additional protections for minors and changes to engagement features such as infinite scrolling.
If the court orders nationwide changes, the effects could be noticeable for millions of Instagram and Facebook users. Meta may have to redesign certain features, introduce stronger checks for young users or change how its apps encourage people to continue viewing content.
The case could also influence the wider social media industry. Technology companies have faced growing pressure over how their platforms affect children, how young users’ data is handled and whether engagement-focused features can encourage unhealthy levels of use.
A major ruling against Meta could give regulators and state governments a stronger legal path for challenging similar designs on other social platforms. A victory for Meta, however, could make it harder for governments to prove that common social media features themselves violate consumer protection laws.
The lawsuit has been developing for several years and followed growing concern about Instagram and Facebook’s impact on younger users. It is now moving into a crucial stage where internal company records, expert evidence and testimony from current and former Meta employees could play an important role.
For Meta, the outcome could go far beyond a courtroom penalty. Instagram and Facebook remain central parts of its business, and rules that change how the apps attract and retain young users could affect product design, advertising, engagement and future development.
The trial therefore represents an important test of how far U.S. consumer protection and child privacy laws can be used to control the design of major social media platforms. Whatever the final decision, the case could help shape the next phase of online safety rules for children and teenagers.
