The lawsuits against Meta claim that Instagram and Facebook were deliberately designed to maximize the time young people spend on them, and that Meta knew from its own research that heavy use was harming children and teens but did not warn families.
Design Features at the Center of the Claims
According to the complaints and the evidence presented at trial, these features were built to keep young users engaged:
- Infinite scroll and autoplay, which remove natural stopping points.
- Push notifications, including late at night.
- Likes and engagement counts, which the lawsuits say fuel social comparison.
- Appearance-altering filters, which plaintiffs link to body image problems and body dysmorphia.
- Recommendation algorithms that allegedly serve up more of whatever keeps a teen watching.
Failures the Lawsuits Describe
- Age verification: the lawsuits say Meta did little to keep children under 13 off Instagram. Instagram did not ask new users for a birth date until December 2019, according to evidence shown at the first trial.
- Parental controls: plaintiffs claim the controls were weak and easy for teens to get around.
- Time limits and account deletion: the lawsuits say Meta did not offer effective time limits and made accounts hard to delete.
- Failure to warn: plaintiffs claim Meta knew of the risks to young users and did not tell parents.
What the First Jury Found
In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found that Meta was negligent in the design or operation of Instagram, that the negligence was a substantial factor in harming the plaintiff, and that Meta failed to adequately warn of the dangers. The jury also found grounds for punitive damages. See Meta trials.
Meta’s Position
Meta denies the claims and has appealed the verdict. At the first trial, Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified that he does not believe people can become clinically addicted to social media, describing what he called problematic use instead.
The Injuries Claimed
The lawsuits seek compensation for young people diagnosed with depression, severe anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, and for families who lost a child to suicide. Compensation in these claims may cover medical and counseling expenses, past and future, along with pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you or your child is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Common Questions
Do I have to prove my child was addicted?
The claims center on heavy, compulsive use that began before age 18 and a diagnosed injury that followed. Medical and counseling records and screen time evidence are gathered as part of the claim.
Does it matter which Meta app my child used?
Claims involve both Instagram and Facebook. Many young people used more than one app, and claims can name more than one company.
Has a court found Meta’s design harmful?
A Los Angeles jury found Meta negligent in March 2026. Meta has appealed, and other cases are still headed to trial.