Meta faces multistate youth-harm trial

Jury selection has begun in a federal trial in Oakland examining allegations that Meta (META) designed Facebook and Instagram in ways that harm children and teenagers. Opening statements are scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, and the proceedings are expected to run for roughly seven weeks.

The case centers on youth use of Meta’s social platforms and whether specific product features and data practices violated consumer-protection and related laws. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is presiding and has empaneled an eight-person advisory jury, whose findings will be nonbinding while the judge issues the final decision.

The litigation traces back to a 2023 multistate filing by state attorneys general, with reports indicating a coalition involving 29 states. In the Oakland federal trial, four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—are presenting the consumer-protection claims on behalf of the broader coalition.

The states allege that Meta’s platforms were engineered in ways that contribute to youth harms and challenge aspects of how children’s data is collected and used. A recent federal appeals court decision rejected Meta’s pre-emptive effort to halt thousands of related suits, allowing the centralized litigation to move forward.

Plaintiffs are seeking broad injunctive relief that could reshape how Meta’s services operate for young users. Requested measures include stricter age verification, elimination of features such as infinite scroll and certain notifications, and deletion or restriction of algorithms and models trained on children’s data.

They are also asking the court to require Meta to re-rank recommendations to prioritize user well-being over engagement. Some court filings and public statements reference potential damages calculations that Meta has said could reach about $1.4 trillion, underscoring the financial exposure the company could face if it loses on key claims.

Meta has publicly rejected the states’ allegations, describing them as unsubstantiated and emphasizing what it presents as substantial protections for young people on its platforms. The company has also characterized the states’ damages calculations as disproportionate and has said it will vigorously contest the litigation.

The Oakland trial follows separate rulings in other proceedings focused on youth issues. In March 2026, a jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty, and a subsequent New Mexico judicial order required $567 million to fund youth mental-health programs, for a combined total of about $942 million that Meta plans to appeal.

Major Meta executives, including founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, are expected to be among potential witnesses at the Oakland trial. Their testimony could illuminate internal decision-making around product design and safeguards for young users.

The outcome of the case may influence not only Meta’s financial obligations but also the future design of social media features aimed at younger audiences. With an advisory jury in place and a multistate coalition pressing for structural changes, the trial represents a significant legal test of youth-focused social media regulation.