Meta faces a landmark US trial that could force major changes to Instagram and Facebook, especially for children and teenagers.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will oversee the case in Oakland, California. It involves claims brought by 29 state attorneys general over alleged harm to young users. Opening statements are scheduled for August 18.
The states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children engaged for longer. They also allege Meta collected data from users under 13 without parental consent. Meta denies the allegations.
States seek sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook
The states are seeking damages that Meta says could reach about $1.4 trillion. They also want major changes to features that shape daily use of Instagram and Facebook.
Their demands include ending infinite scroll, removing visible “like” counts, limiting notifications and stopping autoplay for young users. They also want stronger parental verification for teenagers.
The states want Meta to alter recommendation algorithms that they say encourage compulsive use and prioritise engagement over wellbeing.
Read More: “I Gave Up on Having Kids”: Meta Employee Blames Job Insecurity
Other demands include restrictions on appearance-changing filters, multiple accounts and disappearing posts such as Instagram Stories. Lawyers also want stricter age limits and deletion of AI models trained using children’s data.
Meta has rejected claims that it deliberately harms young people.
“We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people,” the company said.
New Mexico ruling adds pressure on Meta
The California case comes shortly after Meta suffered a legal setback in New Mexico.
A court there ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund addressing youth mental health and child safety. That came on top of an earlier $375 million civil penalty, bringing Meta’s total exposure in the state to $942 million.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid also declared Meta’s platforms a “public nuisance” and imposed child-safety reforms for five years.
The measures include hiding like counts for users under 18, tighter controls on adult interactions with minors and limits on certain notifications. Meta has said it will appeal.
The New Mexico order applies only within that state. A broader defeat in the federal case could have much wider consequences.
Trial could reshape social media for young users
The case also focuses on the psychological effects of engagement features.
State lawyers have pointed to Meta’s internal research linking social comparison on Instagram with loneliness, negative mood and body-image concerns. They argue that likes, recommendations and repeated notifications can intensify pressure on younger users.
Meta argues that youth mental health has many causes. It says it has spent years adding protections for teenagers and families.
Read More: Why Meta’s New Instagram AI Feature Didn’t Last a Week
An advisory jury has been selected, but its findings will not bind Judge Gonzalez Rogers. She will make the final decision after the trial.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are expected to testify.
The case is expected to run for several weeks. A ruling against Meta could become one of the most consequential legal decisions yet for social media platforms.
