Meta will soon face another high-stakes trial in U.S.
Meta is set to face a major federal trial in Oakland regarding allegations that it intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children. The case, brought by four U.S. states, could result in significant financial penalties and operational restrictions for the company.
Why it matters
This trial represents a critical legal challenge for Big Tech, potentially setting a precedent for how social media platforms are regulated regarding minor safety.
With two convictions and nearly $1 billion in damages already stacked up, Meta will face another trial starting this week about alleged harms to children in a case brought by four U.S. states.
The federal trial, one of the most consequential among a myriad of legal proceedings targeting social networks in the United States, will begin Wednesday (August 12, 2026) with jury selection at a federal court in Oakland, near San Francisco.
Opening statements are expected to start next week on August 18, with the trial lasting for roughly six weeks, followed by a verdict in early October.
The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey allege the largest social media network in the world deliberately made Instagram and Facebook addictive for children.
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