29 states in the USA filed a lawsuit against Meta, claiming that it negatively affects children's mental health and is designed to create addiction. The states are demanding up to $1.4 trillion in damages from the company and sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram.
The hearing, which is described as the largest of the lawsuits filed against Meta in the USA for allegedly harming the mental health of children and young people, is expected to be held in California tomorrow. In the case, to which 29 states are parties, it is claimed that Meta's social media platforms are designed to addict children and negatively affect the mental health of young people.
29 STATE PLAINTIFF AGAINST META
According to reports in the US press, California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey will take part as plaintiffs in the hearing to be held tomorrow in Oakland, California. The cases of the other 25 states are expected to be heard at a later date.
In the case, Meta, the umbrella company of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, is accused of negatively affecting the mental health of young people and designing social media applications in a way that makes children addicted.
The lawsuit also alleges that the data of children under the age of 13 was collected without their parents' knowledge, which violates federal law. It is also claimed that Meta attracts the attention of young people with advanced technologies and uses them to increase the company's revenues.
1.4 TRILLION DOLLARS DEMAND REQUEST FROM META
State attorneys general are seeking comprehensive financial damages from Meta that could reach $1.4 trillion. The plaintiffs also want the company to make changes to the way it operates Facebook and Instagram.
The demands include requiring parental consent for young users, "changing algorithms that involve dopamine manipulation", removing filters that alter users' appearance in photos, and preventing videos from autoplaying.
It is also requested to prevent users from creating multiple accounts and to stop sharing content that disappears after a certain period of time, such as stories on Instagram.
WHAT HAPPENS IF META LOSES THE CASE?
Evaluations in the US press state that Meta, which lost two cases this year on the grounds that it harmed children and young people, may face serious sanctions if it encounters a negative outcome in this case as well.
Meta announced that it had lost profits last month due to expenses of $ 2.4 billion in previous legal processes. It is claimed that the company may face a difficult financial situation if it loses the lawsuits filed by 29 states and has to pay compensation of up to 1.4 trillion dollars.
Speaking to ABC News, Law Professor James Grimmelmann said that the court has "broad discretion" regarding the fine, but that a penalty close to $1.4 trillion is unlikely to be imposed.
Grimmelmann stated that such a penalty would "push Meta into bankruptcy and cause the company to become state property, and this situation is unlikely to happen."
Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, testified on February 18, 2026, about whether social media platforms intentionally addict and harm children.
META DENIES THE CLAIMS
In the statement made by Meta, the allegations in the case were rejected. The company argued that the evidence would show it was supporting young people.
In Meta's application to the Northern District Court of California on July 6, "A sanction of this magnitude is unprecedented in the history of sanctions for the protection of consumer rights." The expression was used.
CHILDREN'S SAFETY PRESSURE IS INCREASING ON META
Meta has recently been facing intense legal pressure due to lawsuits filed regarding the use of social media by children and young people.
In the case heard in New Mexico on August 7, a judge ruled that Meta was responsible for the children's mental health crisis and ordered the company to pay $567 million in compensation.
On the other hand, Instagram, under the umbrella of Meta, launched the "Teen Accounts" application in September 2024, which restricts the use of the platform by children and young people and increases security measures.
On April 8, 2025, Instagram announced that users under the age of 16 cannot use the "live broadcast" feature without parental permission and cannot turn off the "automatic blur" feature in private messages.
