Overview: Following a high-stakes trial in Oakland, Meta Platforms, Inc. reached a landmark $19 billion settlement on August 26, 2026, to resolve a massive consumer protection lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a national coalition. The suit alleged that Meta intentionally used addictive features on Instagram and Facebook that harmed minors’ mental health. While Meta paid the record sum, the company did not admit to any wrongdoing regarding the allegations.
Nyla Glover
On August 18, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside state attorneys general from across the nation, entered the U.S. District (federal Court for the Northern District of California to begin trial against Meta Platforms, Inc. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2023, alleges that Meta intentionally designed and deployed addictive, harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that drove excessive use by children and teens, while misleading the public about the severe risks to youth’s physical and mental health.
The multi-state coalition brought claims asserting that Meta violated federal and state consumer protection statutes, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and California’s False Advertising Law, and California’s Unfair Competition Law; in addition to deceiving families about safety. The suit asserts that Meta illegally collected and utilized data from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.
“Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to keep kids on the platforms longer and longer — to the point of physical and mental harm. Exploiting our most vulnerable residents to boost corporate profits is not only morally wrong, it’s also illegal,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta ahead of the proceedings. “Alongside my colleagues from Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, and with support from states across the country, we head into trial ready to hold Meta accountable. As the home of great innovators and Silicon Valley, California has a particular opportunity and obligation to be a catalyst for change.”
Health research presented in court links excessive screen time to increased rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, susceptibility to addiction, and disruptions in daily learning. Evidence developed prior to trial indicated that Meta was well aware of these adverse mental health consequences imposed on underage users through its own internal research, yet continued to prioritize engagement metrics.
“Nearly three years ago, we took action because we believed Meta was putting profits ahead of the health and safety of our kids. Now we are ready to present the evidence and make our case,” noted Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser at the start of trial. “Meta knew its platforms could harm young people, yet continued practices designed to keep them hooked — sacrificing sleep, being distracted in school, and even considering suicide — because more time online meant more money for Meta. At a time when young people are facing a serious mental health crisis, that is unacceptable.”
State leaders drew direct parallels between this litigation and historic public health actions taken against major industries. “This week, we’re in court with the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history,” noted Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. “We’ll show a jury that Meta concealed what it knew about the harm its products cause young people because looking away was more profitable. AGs are in the perfect position to get this done. We did it with the Tobacco Settlement in the 1990s. We did it with the companies behind the opioid crisis. We’ll do it again with Meta.”
State investigative teams spent thousands of hours reviewing internal communications and platform architecture leading up to opening statements. “New Jersey has co-led the nationwide investigation of Meta since 2021, spending thousands of hours investigating Meta’s unlawful conduct,” said New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “As we look forward to proving at trial, Meta has endangered the mental health of an entire generation of kids, with addictive features it knew would have these horrific effects. I cannot stress strongly enough how proud I am of the attorneys on our team and from around the country who are working round-the-clock to hold Meta accountable.”
The American Psychological Association, reports one in five young women and one in ten young men experience a major depressive episode before the age of 25.
The California Department of Public Health reports suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24 in 2024. Although there are multiple, complex contributing factors, mental health is pivotal.
In 2024, the State of California averaged 6.0 per 100,000 among youth ages 20 to 24 years. In the inland region, between the years 2022 and 2024, the suicide rate for youth ages 10 to 24 in per 100,000 in Riverside County was 5.9 compared to 6.8 in San Bernardino County during the same period.
The trial commenced following a series of procedural rulings favoring Attorney General Bonta and the state coalition. In 2024, the court blocked Meta’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In June 2026, the court fully denied Meta’s motion for summary judgment. Just prior to trial, the court rejected Meta’s appeal challenging the suit under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and denied its motion to halt trial proceedings.
The trial opened in Oakland, California, with Attorney General Bonta litigating the case alongside Attorneys General Weiser, Coleman, Davenport, and coalition counsel representing states nationwide.
On August 26, Meta settled the case—without acknowledging—it has misrepresented the magnitude of harm Facebook and Instagram apps have on child-related mental health harms caused by apps like Facebook and Instagram.
Meta agreed to pay about $19 billion to settle the suit. Despite the settlement, the tech giant did not admit wrongdoing. Despite this, the landmark settlement was in response to allegations that the social media giant’s misrepresentation of its awareness of the extent of child-related mental health damage caused by apps like Facebook and Instagram.