Meta is facing what could be its most consequential trial yet in a California federal court beginning Tuesday. This legal challenge follows a difficult year for the company, which has already lost two trials concerning child safety on its platforms and settled a third case.
The trial is part of thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety. Thirty US states have filed suits to force an overhaul of the company's platforms for young users. Four of these states specifically allege that Facebook and Instagram were designed to hook children and that Meta hid the resulting mental health risks.
The financial and operational stakes are immense, with four states demanding 1.4 trillion dollars in damages for alleged harms to young users. While these penalties approach Meta's market value, the more lasting threat is a court-ordered overhaul of Facebook and Instagram for young users.