Meta faces major jury trial over child safety on Instagram and Facebook

A major jury trial began in California this week involving a coalition of U.S. states against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The litigation, which stems from lawsuits filed in 2023 by 30 states, accuses the tech giant of designing addictive features specifically to target minors, violating federal and state privacy laws, and collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. While most sources cite a potential demand of over $1 trillion in total damages, reports from OmegaLive indicate that four lead states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—are currently seeking approximately $193 billion.

Beyond financial penalties, the states are demanding structural changes to how these platforms operate for younger users. Specifically, they propose ending the infinite scroll feature, removing public “like” counts, and disabling filters that alter appearance. Officials, including Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, argue that Meta prioritized profit over the mental health of minors. The outcome of this trial could force fundamental shifts in social media design, with the lawsuit being described by some officials as the largest consumer protection case in American history. The proceedings follow a series of previous legal setbacks for the company regarding its impact on young users.