Several U.S. states are pursuing $1.4 trillion in penalties against Meta (Facebook’s parent company) as part of a youth-safety lawsuit alleging Facebook and Instagram are designed to keep minors engaged. The figure is described as close to Meta’s market capitalization. According to Meta’s statements to the court, four states are seeking the amount ahead of an August trial. The states named across reports include California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The trial is set to be heard in Oakland, California, before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Meta says it has been made aware of the penalty demand through the states’ court filings and references it in its own filing with the federal court. Some details about the claims have been discussed in earlier proceedings, though the underlying state filings are reported as not publicly available. The dispute centers on allegations that Meta’s platform design choices contribute to harmful or addictive usage patterns among young users. The case is proceeding in federal court, with the trial scheduled for August.
