Meta is entering one of the most important legal battles in its history, whose outcome could permanently change Instagram and Facebook.
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The trial begins Tuesday and is considered one of the most serious legal challenges the company has faced to date. If the ruling goes against it, Meta could be forced to reconsider how its platforms work for younger users.
At the heart of the case is a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 30 U.S. states, including California and New York. They claim the company violated federal and state laws related to privacy and child protection.
However, the case is not limited to imposing a fine. In addition to a financial claim exceeding $1 trillion, the states aim to force Meta to alter several core features of Facebook and Instagram. A loss for the company could affect millions of users across the U.S.
How could Instagram and Facebook be transformed?
The plaintiffs are seeking a series of changes, including the introduction of parental verification for teenagers.
The proposed measures also include revising content recommendation algorithms and restricting filters that alter people’s appearance in photographs.
The list of demands also includes disabling video autoplay, creating barriers to opening multiple accounts, and making changes to disappearing posts such as Instagram Stories.
They are also seeking limits on notifications designed to encourage users to return to the apps.
According to the 30 states, these features were designed to keep users, including children and teenagers, on Meta’s platforms for as long as possible.
The company disputes the claims. Meta has said it disagrees with the allegations and that the evidence will demonstrate its commitment to supporting young people.
The case is being heard in California by federal judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Its significance has increased following a recent ruling in New Mexico, where Meta was fined $942 million and ordered to change how Instagram and Facebook operate for minors.
The measures sought in that case include hiding like counts for people under 18, imposing restrictions on nude content that teenagers send or receive, and limiting notifications during certain hours.
The New Mexico ruling applies only within that state. However, if the 30 states prevail in the new trial, the impact would be much broader, as they represent nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population.
How likes and other features that drive engagement on social media operate is one of the trial’s main issues. The states say these mechanisms can harm children and teenagers by pushing them to make constant comparisons with other users.
In a recent case against Meta, a young girl testified that she had opened dozens of accounts on YouTube and Instagram to increase the number of likes on her own posts. She said she used them to seek validation and try to feel better about herself.
Among the materials submitted to the court are Meta’s internal studies. They linked Instagram use to social comparison, loneliness, negative body image, and low mood.
If the plaintiffs win, the consequences will not be confined to the courtroom. The ruling could transform how millions of Americans, particularly younger people, use Facebook and Instagram.
For Meta, this battle could determine not only how much the company must pay, but also how its platforms will operate in the years ahead.
