Jury Selection Starts in States’ Lawsuit Against Meta Over Youth Harms
Federal court started jury selection for a trial accusing Meta of harming youth on social media.
Why it matters: This trial could establish key legal precedents on social media companies’ duties to protect young users. Its outcomes may influence future regulations and platform policies concerning youth privacy and mental health.
- Jury selection began August 12, 2026, in Oakland, California, for a federal trial against Meta involving four states: California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
- The lawsuit alleges Meta collected data on children under 13 without parental consent and used addictive features to exploit youth for profit.
- The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks and seeks to hold Meta accountable for harms to youth mental health and privacy.
- Recent rulings include a $567 million penalty in New Mexico and a $6 million damages award in Los Angeles over social media addiction claims.
- On August 10, 2026, a U.S. Appeals Court allowed thousands of similar lawsuits against Meta and others to proceed.
Jury selection officially kicked off on August 12, 2026, in federal court in Oakland, California, as part of a high-profile trial against Meta Platforms. This lawsuit, brought by four states — California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey — accuses Meta of harming youth users through its social media platforms. Allegations include unauthorized data collection on children under age 13 and the use of addictive design features meant to exploit youth engagement for profit. The multidistrict lawsuit originated with 29 states in 2023, highlighting widespread concerns about social media's impact on children.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers led the voir dire, asking potential jurors about their social media use and any pre-existing views regarding lawsuits against Meta. The court's goal is to select an impartial jury capable of fairly assessing these claims amid intense public scrutiny.
Meta has publicly disagreed with the allegations but has acknowledged the importance of listening to concerns from parents and the public. Previous legal decisions underscore the trial's significance: in March 2026, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million over harms to young users, alongside an earlier $375 million civil penalty. Additionally, a Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in damages to a plaintiff in a social media addiction lawsuit involving Meta and YouTube.
Further affirming the legal pressure, a U.S. Appeals Court ruling on August 10, 2026, permitted thousands of lawsuits targeting Meta and other social media companies over allegedly harmful and addictive design practices to move forward.
With the trial expected to span six to eight weeks, the outcome may influence how social media platforms are regulated and hold companies accountable for protecting younger users’ privacy and mental health.
By the numbers:
- 29 states — filed the multidistrict lawsuit against Meta in 2023
- 4 states — California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey involved in current trial
- $567 million — penalty ordered by New Mexico court in March 2026
- $6 million — damages awarded by Los Angeles jury in a social media addiction lawsuit
- 6-8 weeks — expected length of the current trial
What's next: Expect witness testimonies and expert evidence presentations following jury selection; verdict could impact regulatory policies on social media safety for youth.