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By Rodrigo Santos Andrade
Live: Outside Meta trial courthouse amid landmark social media addiction landsuit
visibility comment0 event August 19, 2026 timer 11:21
The outcome of a landmark trial that began on Aug. 18 over claims that Meta Platforms designed its products in ways that harm children has the potential to reshape some of the world’s most popular apps, analysts said.
In the high-stakes case unfolding in Meta’s home state of California, 29 attorneys general joined in a unified lawsuit alleging that Meta fostered addictive behavior in teens and children. Lawyers representing California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky will argue that the Facebook and Instagram parent must be held accountable for violating federal and state laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, and various consumer protection statutes.
Consequences are potentially enormous, with reports of Meta estimating penalties as high as $1.4 trillion, near the company’s market cap of $1.5 trillion. The attorneys general haven’t specified what they are seeking in penalties, but said at a hearing last week that the amount could be closer to $200 billion.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/legal/2026/08/18/landmark-trial-meta-teen-safety-social-media/91351649007/
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