Meta’s $1 trillion lawsuit could change Instagram and Facebook forever | BBC News

Overview

A major US jury trial in California is about to begin that could significantly reshape how Facebook and Instagram function worldwide. Dubbed the largest consumer-protection lawsuit in US history, it accuses Meta (the owner of Facebook and Instagram) of intentionally designing features to be addictive to children and of misleading the public about the harms of these practices.

Meta denies the allegations as unsubstantiated and says it will demonstrate its longstanding commitment to protecting young people.

Why the trial is happening / what’s being alleged

• The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by dozens of US states, argues Meta used “faulty by design” methods—product features engineered to drive engagement among minors while increasing risk of harm.
• States also allege Meta misled the public about these practices.
• The trial is expected to last six weeks, with four states named as plaintiffs: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
• State attorneys are seeking changes such as:
  • Ending autoplay
  • Reworking algorithms
  • Adjusting core engagement mechanics (the coverage also references changes related to features like infinite scrolling, and “likes”/video-related design choices)

Why it’s considered different and high-stakes

The coverage frames the case as a “new high water mark” in the broader debate over social media’s impact on children. It follows other legal actions, including:

• A Los Angeles case where a jury awarded $6 million to a young woman claiming Instagram/YouTube harmed her mental health.
• New Mexico actions where a judge described Meta’s products in sweeping “public nuisance” terms and ordered more stringent rules, including:
  • Stronger age restrictions
  • Stopping overnight push notifications for under-18 users

The financial stakes are portrayed as extremely large:

• Meta argues potential costs could reach up to $1.4 trillion
• States estimate a lower figure around $200 billion

Regardless of the final number, the segment stresses that losing could force platform changes that would meaningfully alter Meta’s business model.

Global context: bans and regulation of youth use

The story places the US trial within a wider international push to limit child access to social platforms:

• Australia (reported as of December 2025) became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access to platforms including Instagram and Facebook.
• The UK is considering a ban for under 16s, intended to start around spring 2027.
• Canada proposed restricting under-16 access with a “workaround” requiring companies to demonstrate effective harm-minimization policies.
• France’s top court blocked a ban on under-15s on freedom of expression grounds, despite legislative approval.

The reporter notes that bans remove large numbers of child accounts, but evidence is mixed because circumvention can occur—and younger users may be denied something they value—raising questions about real-world effectiveness.

What platform changes might look like (and why Meta may resist)

Interviews and coverage framing suggest states want fundamental changes to:

• Story-related design
• Like counts
• Algorithmic recommendations
• Ending endless/infinite scrolling

One expert view suggests Meta has made incremental improvements in child safety and parental controls. However, the lawsuit targets core, revenue-driving mechanisms—including algorithms, engagement loops, and video/feature design—which would be harder for the company to accept without major structural changes.

Bottom line

The coverage’s core message is that this trial could be a turning point: either Meta successfully defends its design choices, or—if states prevail—court-ordered changes could set a precedent influencing how social media companies operate globally, potentially accelerating stricter regulation of engagement systems targeted at children.

Presenters / Contributors

• Chris Vallance (senior technology reporter)
• Lily Jamali (technology correspondent)
• Ben Henly (reporter)
• BBC News (implied segment coverage; no additional named presenters in the subtitles)