Four States Seek $1.4 Trillion in Penalties From Meta

Meta Platforms Inc. disclosed in court filings that California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties in a youth safety trial. The states allege that Meta intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to teenagers, contributing to a mental health crisis involving anxiety, depression, and suicide, while misleading the public about platform safety.

Attorneys general calculated the figure by multiplying state-mandated fine amounts by the estimated number of affected young users, specifically seeking maximum penalties for days teenagers spent varying amounts of time on the platforms. Meta has denied the claims, arguing that social media addiction is not a recognized medical diagnosis and describing the requested sanctions as outlandish and untethered from reality. The company noted the sum represents approximately 93 percent of its market value and has no analog in consumer protection enforcement history.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has rejected Meta's attempts to dismiss the case. The trial is scheduled to begin August 18 in Oakland, California. The proceedings will also address claims from 29 other states regarding violations of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and the illegal collection of data from children under 13. This litigation follows a March 2026 verdict in New Mexico, where a jury awarded the state $375 million for similar claims of misleading users about child safety.