Meta faces a major court fight over how Instagram and Facebook treat young users. A trial brought by 30 US states is set to begin Tuesday.
The states say Meta broke privacy laws that protect children. They also say the company used its apps in ways that could harm young users.
The case could have a major effect on Meta. The states want large changes to how Instagram and Facebook work.
They also seek more than $1 trillion in damages. The states say Meta should change key features that keep users on its apps.
The states want Meta to check the age of teenage users. They also want a system to verify parents.
They are also asking Meta to change its recommendation systems. The states say these systems can push content that keeps young users online for longer.
Other demands include ending like counts for young users. They also want Meta to stop endless scrolling and video autoplay.
The states want limits on image filters that change how people look. They also want to stop users from making many accounts.
Another demand is an end to posts that disappear after a short time. Instagram Stories are one example of this type of content.
The states say these features can make young people spend more time on the apps. They also point to frequent alerts that can bring users back to the platforms.
The states accuse Meta of using young users to grow its business. They say the company knew some parts of its platforms could create risks for children.
Meta denies the claims. A company spokeswoman said Meta strongly disagrees with the allegations.
She also said the evidence would show the company has worked for years to support young people.
The case will be heard by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, a federal judge in California. She has served on the bench for nearly 20 years.
The trial comes after other court losses for Meta. In one recent case, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $942 million.
That ruling also called for changes to Instagram and Facebook. The changes included hiding like counts from users under 18.
The judge also ordered limits on some messages that include nudity. Push alerts for young users were also limited to set hours.
The judge called Meta a public nuisance. Meta said it would appeal the ruling.
That case only affects Meta in New Mexico. The new case is much wider.
The 30 states involved in the case represent nearly two-thirds of the US population. If they win, Meta could face pressure to make similar changes across the country.
Like counts are a key issue in the case. They have been part of Facebook since its early years and remain common across social media.
The states say likes can lead young people to compare themselves with others. They argue that this can affect how young users feel about themselves.
Meta’s own research is also part of the case. Lawyers for the states say company research linked Instagram use and social comparison with loneliness, poor body image and negative moods.
The case could now shape how social media companies design their platforms for young users.
A ruling against Meta could lead to major changes in how teenagers use Instagram and Facebook. It could also add pressure on other social media firms to change their own youth safety rules.
The trial is expected to draw close attention as US states seek stronger protections for children online.
