A coalition of 29 states is seeking sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram in a landmark case against Meta that could fundamentally reshape how young people use social media. The trial, which is starting on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in federal court in California, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by a bipartisan group of state attorneys general, co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who accused Meta of violating children's privacy laws and deliberately designing features that keep teenagers engaged for longer periods. In 2023, Bonta said that “Meta has been harming our children and teens, cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits,” adding that he was “grateful for the collaboration of my fellow state attorneys general in standing up for our children and holding Meta accountable." The states are seeking more than $200 billion in damages and court-ordered changes to some of Instagram and Facebook's most recognizable features.
The states allege that Meta knowingly developed products and features that encourage compulsive use among children and teenagers, despite evidence linking excessive social media use to mental health concerns. They claim Instagram and Facebook rely on recommendation algorithms, notifications, and engagement tools designed to maximize the amount of time young users spend on the platforms. The lawsuit alleges violations of federal and state privacy and consumer protection laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
According to the states, Meta misrepresented the safety of its platforms while collecting data from younger users and encouraging them to return repeatedly through algorithmically curated content. Earlier this year, Meta denied the allegations, saying in a statement, reported by , that “We strongly disagree with these allegations,” and that it’s “confident” that the evidence will show it’s committed to supporting young people and providing age-appropriate safety protections across its services. According to the dockets and filings, the lawsuit was filed by attorneys general from: If the coalition prevails, Facebook and Instagram could be required to make significant changes for younger users.
The states contend these features were intentionally designed to maximize engagement and keep children returning to the platforms. This case follows a separate loss for Meta in New Mexico, where a judge ordered nearly $1 billion in penalties and mandated changes aimed at protecting minors. A ruling against Meta in California could have far broader consequences because the states involved represent a substantial share of the U.S. population.
The trial is being closely watched across the technology industry, with some observers comparing it to the legal battles that transformed the tobacco industry decades ago. If the states are successful, Instagram and Facebook could be forced to redesign core aspects of their platforms, potentially changing how millions of teenagers experience social media. Newsweek has reached out to Meta via email for comment.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.
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