Meta has entered one of the biggest US court fights yet over how Facebook and Instagram treat children. Jury selection began in Oakland, California, on August 12, 2026, with opening statements scheduled for August 18. The case combines allegations that Meta built engagement features that keep young users hooked with claims that it illegally collected children’s data.
The stakes stretch beyond another tech-industry damages case. Reuters reports that states want nationwide changes to feeds, notifications, age controls and recommendation systems. Meta says potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion, although the attorneys general have not publicly named a damages figure.
Why This Meta Trial Is Bigger Than Earlier Youth-Safety Cases
The litigation traces back to a 2023 multistate investigation following whistleblower Frances Haugen’s disclosures about Meta’s internal research. The original multistate action against Meta accused the company of knowingly deploying features that encouraged compulsive use among children and teens. Nine additional attorneys general filed separate cases, bringing the number taking action at that stage to 42.
In the current federal trial, Colorado, Kentucky, California and New Jersey are pressing claims that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage compulsive use and misrepresented their safety. Claims from 29 states also accuse Meta of collecting and using data from children under 13 in breach of federal privacy law.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is overseeing the expected seven-week proceeding. An unusual advisory jury will answer selected factual questions, but Rogers can accept or disregard its findings. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify.
What Could Facebook And Instagram Be Forced To Change?
The requested remedies reach directly into product design. If the states succeed, Facebook and Instagram could behave very differently for younger users, particularly around recommendations, notifications and time spent scrolling.
The states want the court to order Meta to:
- Remove infinite scroll and curb notifications that repeatedly draw young users back.
- Introduce stronger age restrictions and stricter controls for accounts belonging to minors.
- Delete algorithms and artificial-intelligence models built using children’s data.
- Rework recommendation systems so youth well-being takes priority over engagement.
- Set firm time limits for younger users and strengthen protections around personal information.
That would be far broader than a financial penalty. Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snap already face more than 3,000 consolidated federal cases involving allegations about social-media design and young users.
Meta Says Its Teen Safety Work Tells A Different Story
Meta strongly disputes the allegations. The company says it has spent years working with parents, experts and law enforcement while adding protections for younger users. It has also argued that “social media addiction” is not a formally recognised psychiatric condition.
In June, Meta expanded its Teen Account protections across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger. The company says it now uses 13+ content settings, AI-powered age assurance and parental alerts when supervised teens repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm terms.
Reuters Legal also posted about an important procedural fight after Meta failed to stop the 29-state litigation from advancing.
That decision did not establish that Meta was liable. It kept the claims alive for trial.
Could This Case Set The Rules For Youth Social Media?
Meta arrives in Oakland after several courtroom setbacks. A New Mexico judge recently ordered the company to pay $567 million for youth treatment, prevention and other remedies, on top of $375 million in civil penalties from an earlier jury phase. Meta plans to appeal. The Associated Press report on the New Mexico ruling also details court-ordered age-assurance and child-safety measures.
In March, a Los Angeles jury separately found Meta and Google negligent in a personal-harm case, awarding $4.2 million against Meta and $1.8 million against Google. More than 3,300 largely individual lawsuits are also pending in Los Angeles state court.
Public pressure is moving in the same direction. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published before the Oakland trial found 85% of Americans surveyed believe social media can be addictive for children, while 61% favour stronger oversight of social-media companies.
For Meta, the immediate question is liability. For Facebook and Instagram users, the bigger issue is whether courts can force product decisions usually made inside Silicon Valley. A victory for the states could put age checks, feed limits and engagement controls at the centre of the next phase of US social-media regulation.
FAQs
Why Are 29 States Suing Meta?
They allege Meta collected children’s data unlawfully and exposed minors to harmful, engagement-driven platform designs.
Could Instagram Lose Infinite Scroll?
Yes, states are asking the judge to order Meta to remove infinite scroll for users.
Will Mark Zuckerberg Testify In The Trial?
Yes, Zuckerberg is expected to testify, alongside Instagram head Adam Mosseri, during the Oakland proceedings.
How Much Could Meta Potentially Pay?
Meta says potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion, though states have disclosed no requested total.
When Will The Meta Trial End?
The trial should run seven weeks, with Judge Rogers issuing a decision sometime after October concludes.
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