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Meta is facing one of its biggest legal challenges yet as a jury trial begins over allegations that Instagram and Facebook harmed young users.
The case was filed in 2023 by 30 US states, including California and New York. The states accuse Meta of violating federal and state privacy laws and deliberately designing its platforms to keep children and teenagers engaged.
The states are seeking potentially more than $1 trillion in damages. They are also demanding major changes to Instagram and Facebook.
The states want Meta to introduce parental verification for teenage users and change recommendation algorithms they describe as designed to manipulate users’ attention.
They are also seeking restrictions on several features, including:
The states argue that these features encourage children and teenagers to spend more time on Meta’s platforms.
They allege that Meta knowingly designed its services to attract and retain young users as part of its efforts to expand its user base and business.
Meta strongly denies the allegations.
A company spokesperson said Meta disagreed with the claims and remained confident that evidence would demonstrate its commitment to supporting young people.
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The latest trial follows several legal setbacks for Meta over its treatment of young users.
In a recent New Mexico case, Judge Bryan Biedscheid fined Meta $942 million and ordered several changes to its platforms.
The measures included removing like counts for users under 18, restricting teenagers from sending or receiving nude content and limiting push notifications during certain hours.
The judge also declared Meta a “public nuisance”, comparing the alleged impact of its platforms to pollution affecting an entire population.
Meta has said it will appeal that ruling.
Like counts are among the features facing renewed scrutiny.
The states argue that visible engagement metrics can encourage social comparison and negatively affect young people’s mental health.
Evidence presented in the wider litigation has included Meta’s own internal research. The research linked Instagram-driven social comparison with issues including loneliness, negative mood and concerns about body image.
A young woman identified as Kaley also testified in an earlier case against Meta. She described creating multiple accounts to generate likes for her own posts when she was nine years old.
She said she became focused on online validation and later experienced depression.
The case is before US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California.
The judge has handled several high-profile technology disputes and is known for direct questioning and detailed scrutiny of evidence.
The 30 states have reportedly received more than two million documents from Meta as part of the litigation.
The states now want Judge Gonzalez Rogers to conclude that Meta’s platform design contributed to a broader youth mental health crisis.
The lawsuit could have consequences far beyond Meta.
The states involved represent nearly two-thirds of the US population. If they win and the court orders nationwide-style changes, Meta could face pressure to alter major parts of the Instagram and Facebook experience.
Changes to likes, recommendations, notifications, autoplay and other engagement features could fundamentally reshape how young people use the platforms.
The case therefore represents more than another legal dispute for Meta. A major defeat could force one of the world’s largest social media companies to rethink how its platforms are designed for children and teenagers.
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