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A federal trial started in Oakland, California. It could change how Facebook and Instagram work for young users.
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Prosecutors say Meta built features that kept kids scrolling. They also say Meta collected data from children under 13 without permission.
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Meta could face fines up to $1.4 trillion. State lawyers say a number closer to $200 billion is more likely.
Meta Platforms is now facing one of its biggest legal battles ever. A coalition of 29 US states launched a federal trial this week. The trial is happening in Oakland, California. States accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook children and teens on purpose.
This case could reshape how social media companies build their apps. Prosecutors argue that Meta chose profit and engagement over the safety of young users. They also claim Meta broke the law. The company allegedly gathered personal data from kids under 13 without asking parents first.
What the States Say Meta Did
Four states are leading the courtroom fight. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are presenting the main arguments right now. Prosecutors claim Meta used specific tools to keep young people hooked. These tools include infinite scrolling, smart content suggestions, and constant notifications.
According to Reuters, a bipartisan group of these 29 states wants Meta to pay major penalties. They also want the company to change how its apps operate. This part of the case matters just as much as the money.
One piece of evidence stands out. Prosecutors say internal Meta records mention boosting how long teens spend on the app. The states argue this proves Meta knew the risks. They say the company kept chasing engagement anyway.
A former Meta engineer named Arturo Bejar also plays a key role in the case. He worked at the company for years. Bejar had already warned Meta leaders about harm to young users. As reported by NBC News, he said Meta focused more on catching rule-breakers than on tracking real harm to teens.
The Evidence and What Meta Says Back
The financial stakes here are massive. Meta has said the total penalties could reach $1.4 trillion. That number is close to the company’s entire market value. State attorneys, though, believe a more realistic figure sits near $200 billion.
Money is not the only goal for the states. They also want the court to force Meta to redesign parts of Facebook and Instagram. A win for the states could mean real changes to how these apps function every day.
Meta strongly denies all of this. The company says it has spent heavily on protecting young users over the years. Meta’s legal team argues the evidence does not prove its products caused mental health harm. Company lawyers also say the states are misreading old internal messages.
This case joins a bigger wave of lawsuits against social media giants. Courts have already ordered Meta to pay in earlier related cases. According to CBC News, a Los Angeles jury ordered Google and Meta to remit $6 million to a lady. She said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child.
A judge in New Mexico also ordered Meta to pay hundreds of millions of dollars. That case dealt with the mental health of teenagers in that state. These earlier rulings raise the pressure on Meta as the Oakland trial continues.
Why this Trial Matters Going Forward
Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the trial himself. His time on the stand may become the most watched part of the whole case. Prosecutors want to show what Meta’s top leaders knew. They also want to prove how that knowledge shaped product choices.
The trial is expected to run for several weeks. An eight-person jury will hear the case and share an advisory verdict. However, a federal judge will make the final call on whether Meta is liable.
The heightened scrutiny on Meta’s handling of user data coincides with an alleged dark web listing promising to bypass Instagram’s privacy settings for $500, claiming to access private accounts’ photos and videos, though researchers note similar fraudulent ads are common and advise against paying. The listing appears as Meta faces intense legal and public scrutiny over its data practices in the Oakland trial.
For Meta, this trial means much more than a normal lawsuit. A loss could force big changes to two of the world’s most used apps. It could also influence other lawsuits against tech companies dealing with similar claims.
The core question is simple. Did Meta simply build popular apps that people enjoy using? Or did the company knowingly design tools to exploit young users for profit? The jury and judge must now weigh the evidence and decide.
This trial remains ongoing, and the final outcome is not yet confirmed. Readers should watch for updates as testimony and evidence continue over the coming weeks.
