Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Social Media Harms to Children

Opening statements are underway in a landmark trial against Meta Platforms in California on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

A coalition of 29 U.S. states, represented by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, accuse Meta of knowingly designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children under 13. The states allege Meta misled the public about platform safety for young users and violated child privacy laws. They seek around $200 billion in financial penalties and demand changes to Meta's apps.

Meta had claimed the states sought over $1 trillion, which a lawyer for the states called for shock value. The states sued Meta in 2023 following a multistate investigation into the impact of Facebook and Instagram on young users. Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed Meta's request to block ex-Meta employee Arturo Bejar from testifying, describing it as a "Hail Mary" effort.

Bejar previously testified against Meta in a New Mexico trial that Meta lost. Meta also asked to restrict testimony from expert witness Colin Gray regarding dark patterns, features designed to manipulate users. The trial is expected to last six weeks, with a verdict anticipated by early October. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg is among the star witnesses expected to testify.

Meta denies wrongdoing, disputes claims that its platforms caused harm, and argues that social media addiction is not an officially recognized psychiatric diagnosis. The states highlight specific features like continuous scrolling and algorithm prompts as harmful.