The recent landmark ruling against Meta in the United States was the result of a lawsuit filed in 2023 which went to trial in August 2026. It was brought by nearly fifty attorneys general, school districts and families, who alleged that the company’s social media platforms, which include Instagram and Facebook, pose serious risks to mental health.
The case ended in a $18 billion dollar settlement, and imposed direct structural changes on the way Instagram and Facebook operate. These could eventually extend to other platforms and social media networks, according to Attorney General William Tong.
