Meta goes on trial over social media addiction and child privacy claims -

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has gone on trial in the United States over allegations that its platforms harm children and violate their privacy.

The trial began in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with four states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — leading the case against the technology giant. The states are part of a wider lawsuit involving 29 states that accuse Meta of putting profits and user engagement ahead of the safety of young people.

The lawsuit alleges that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram with features that encourage children and teenagers to spend excessive amounts of time on the platforms.

“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” the lawsuit says, arguing that the company’s motive was to maximise profits.

The states are expected to focus on features including infinite scrolling, personalised recommendations, automatic video playback and frequent notifications.

Prosecutors argue that these features were designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, even when prolonged use could negatively affect young people’s wellbeing.

The case also accuses Meta of misleading parents and the public about the potential dangers of its platforms.

According to the states, the company had information about the effects of social media on young users but failed to take sufficient action.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the states are prepared to argue that Meta deceived consumers about the risks associated with its platforms.

“We’re putting the profits … over the health of a generation of young people,” Davenport said, describing the allegations the states intend to prove in court.

Child privacy is another central issue in the case. The states allege that Meta collected personal information from children under 13 without obtaining the parental consent required under US law.

The allegation raises wider concerns about how social media companies identify young users and protect their personal information. The states argue that Meta knew children were using its services but failed to adequately prevent them from accessing the platforms.

The plaintiffs are seeking financial penalties as well as changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate. Among the possible reforms are stronger age restrictions and changes to features such as infinite scrolling and other systems that encourage prolonged engagement.

The potential financial consequences are enormous. The states are seeking damages that could approach $200 billion, while the maximum theoretical exposure has been estimated at as much as $1.4 trillion.

Meta has strongly rejected the allegations and says the evidence will demonstrate its efforts to protect young people.

“We’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most,” the company said in a statement.

Meta is expected to argue that it has introduced several safety measures for teenagers and provided parents with tools to manage their children’s experiences on Facebook and Instagram.

The company also disputes the states’ characterisation of its platforms as addictive and is expected to challenge whether the evidence establishes that Meta’s products directly caused the alleged harm.

The trial is particularly significant because it could determine how far governments can go in holding technology companies responsible for the design of their products and their impact on young users.

The proceedings are being closely watched because they could influence numerous other lawsuits against Meta and other major social media companies, including TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. Hundreds of school districts and thousands of individual plaintiffs have brought similar claims in the United States.

Meta has already faced other major legal challenges over child safety. Earlier this year, a New Mexico case resulted in more than $900 million in penalties and safety-related measures against the company.

A separate California case also resulted in a jury finding Meta and YouTube liable in a lawsuit brought by a young person who alleged that social media use contributed to mental health problems. The verdict further increased pressure on technology companies over the design of their platforms.

The current trial is expected to last several weeks and could include testimony from Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Their evidence could provide insight into the company’s decisions concerning young users and the development of Facebook and Instagram.

For the states, the case is not simply about whether children use social media too much. Their broader argument is that Meta should be held responsible for designing products that they say exploit the vulnerabilities of young users.

However, the case represents a major challenge to its business model and could force significant changes if the states succeed.

The case also comes at a time when governments and parents around the world are increasingly demanding stronger protections for children online.

Concerns about excessive screen time, harmful content, privacy and the psychological effects of social media have intensified as children spend more of their lives on digital platforms.

Ultimately, the trial will test whether existing laws are strong enough to hold one of the world’s largest technology companies accountable for the alleged consequences of its platform design.