Meta has returned to the courtroom for what legal experts are describing as its biggest test yet over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to keep children hooked.
The landmark federal trial began with opening statements on August 18, 2026, in Oakland, California, bringing Meta face-to-face with a bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states. Four lead states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey accuse the tech giant of designing features that encouraged excessive use among young people while allegedly misleading the public about the platforms’ safety.
All 29 states are also pursuing claims that Meta improperly collected and used children’s personal information in violation of federal law. Meta strongly denies the allegations and argues that its platforms were not designed to addict users.
The case could have enormous consequences for the company. The states are seeking potentially tens or hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties, while Meta has warned that possible exposure could reach as high as $1.4 trillion. Attorneys general have suggested a figure closer to $200 billion could be more realistic.
Beyond money, the lawsuit could force major changes to Facebook and Instagram. The states want restrictions on younger users and are pushing for changes to features including infinite scroll, likes, notifications and algorithms designed to maximize engagement.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify during the proceedings. The trial is expected to run for several weeks, with an advisory jury hearing the evidence before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ultimately determines Meta’s liability.
The courtroom battle comes amid mounting legal pressure on social media companies over their impact on children and teenagers.
For Meta, this trial could become a defining moment. A major defeat could mean not only a staggering financial penalty but also forced changes to the very features that helped make Facebook and Instagram global social media giants.
