A lawsuit filed by dozens of states against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to go to trial in California this week. The states are seeking extensive financial damages, potentially totaling $1.4 trillion, as well as changes to how the company operates its platforms.

Allegations Against Meta

The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by designing features that get children addicted to its platforms. It also claims that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.

Meta has introduced safety tools in recent years, including teen accounts on Instagram with messaging and content restrictions, and parental controls. However, safety advocates have called on the company to do more.

Trial and Potential Outcome

The trial, which features four states as plaintiffs — California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey — centers on state and federal statutes that Meta allegedly violated. The potential penalty amounts for each violation could be substantial, with some experts saying that a penalty of $1.4 trillion would be unlikely but could have significant consequences for the company.

The outcome of the trial could lead to changes in how Facebook and Instagram operate, which could be as consequential as any financial penalty. The states are seeking to hold Meta accountable for its actions and to protect children from the potential harms of social media.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.