Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a landmark jury trial in California over allegations that it deliberately designed its social media platforms with features that could be addictive and harmful to children.
The case, involving 29 US states, is being described as one of the largest consumer protection lawsuits against a technology company and could have far-reaching implications for how social media platforms are designed and operated globally.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleges that Meta incorporated features into Facebook and Instagram that encouraged excessive engagement among young users in an effort to increase profits, while also misleading the public about the potential risks.
Meta has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as unsubstantiated. The company maintains that the evidence will demonstrate its longstanding commitment to protecting young people on its platforms.
The six-week trial features California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey as the plaintiffs. The states are seeking changes to fundamental features of Facebook and Instagram, including aspects of their algorithms, autoplay, infinite scrolling, stories and like counts.
At the heart of the case is the argument that Meta’s platforms were effectively “faulty by design”, with features allegedly created to encourage prolonged use among vulnerable users, particularly children.
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The potential financial consequences for Meta could be enormous. While the states have estimated potential penalties at around $200 billion, Meta has argued that the costs could reach as high as $1.4 trillion. Beyond financial penalties, a ruling against the company could force significant changes to the way its platforms operate.
The California case comes amid a growing wave of legal and regulatory action against social media companies over their impact on children and teenagers.
In a separate case in New Mexico, a jury recently found Meta liable for deliberately endangering children, resulting in nearly $1 billion in fines. Meta is appealing that decision. A Los Angeles jury also awarded a California woman $6 million after claims that Instagram and YouTube contributed to harm to her mental health.
The growing legal pressure has also been accompanied by government efforts to restrict children’s access to social media.
Australia became the first country to ban social media access for children under 16 in December 2025, covering platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. The United Kingdom has announced plans for restrictions on social media use by under-16s, while Canada has proposed similar measures.
France has also debated restrictions on children’s access to social media, although its top court blocked legislation that would have banned access for those under 15, citing freedom-of-expression concerns.
The effectiveness of such restrictions remains contested. While age restrictions can remove large numbers of children from social media platforms, evidence from Australia has also pointed to significant circumvention, with young users finding ways around the restrictions.
For Meta, however, the California trial could go beyond questions of age restrictions and focus directly on the design of its products.
The states are seeking changes to features that are central to how social media platforms generate engagement, including recommendation algorithms, autoplay and infinite scrolling.
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Technology experts say a ruling against Meta could therefore have implications extending beyond the company, potentially forcing social media platforms to reconsider how they design products for young users.
The outcome could also influence similar lawsuits and regulatory efforts in other countries as governments and policymakers increasingly focus on whether social media companies should be held responsible for the potential consequences of their platform designs.
While Meta has introduced measures aimed at improving child safety and parental controls, the lawsuit’s demands could require changes to features that are fundamental to the company’s business model.
A decision in favour of the states could consequently reshape the social media experience for millions of young people and establish a significant precedent for technology regulation worldwide.
