Attorneys general from 29 states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, are suing Meta in federal court over claims that the company’s platforms contribute to youth mental health problems. The case centers on allegations that Meta designed its platforms to be addictive for children and teens, despite knowing the mental health risks involved. The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages and changes to how Meta operates its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
The trial began on August 18, 2026, in Oakland, with opening statements from both sides, according to fox4news.com. Outside the courthouse, parents and youth advocates held a rally to share stories of children who died after using Meta’s platforms. One speaker shared the story of her 15-year-old son, Riley Basford, who died by suicide after interacting with an adult posing as a young person online. Another mother spoke about her daughter Coco, who became depressed and was groomed on Instagram before meeting a stranger in person, according to a report from eastbaytimes.com.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Meta’s actions show it prioritized profits over children’s safety. Meta argues that social media addiction is not a recognized psychiatric condition and that it did not mislead the public. Legal experts say Meta must provide strong evidence to defend its position beyond simple claims of unawareness about mental health impacts.
If Meta loses, the court could order major changes to how Facebook and Instagram are designed and operated. The trial is part of a broader wave of lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube over their effects on youth mental health. Meta has already faced two major cases this year related to harm to children, and now faces additional legal risks.
The company has said it will present evidence showing its efforts to support young users, including research and collaboration with experts. New Mexico recently ordered Meta to pay a $375 million fine and implement new safety measures for users under 18. In addition to the New Mexico case, Tennessee has filed a separate lawsuit against Meta, claiming Instagram harms children’s mental health.
A jury in Los Angeles found Meta and YouTube liable for damages related to social media addiction, awarding $6 million. That case was a bellwether trial meant to influence similar lawsuits, and it set a precedent for how such cases might be decided. TikTok and Snapchat settled before their trials began, but Meta and YouTube have both appealed the Los Angeles verdict.
Thousands of individual lawsuits have also been filed by people who say social media addiction caused them harm. California’s attorney general emphasized that the case is not about removing Instagram, but about holding Meta accountable for its platform design. The trial includes internal research from Meta that shows how the company understood children’s engagement with its platforms.
Parents and advocates say they are committed to continuing their efforts to hold tech companies responsible for the harm caused to young people. The outcome of this trial could have wide-reaching consequences for how social media companies operate in the future.
IMAGE: California State Assembly member Rob Bonta speaking at the Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility ribbon-cutting ceremony in December 2018. Photo: Pi.1415926535 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0