Hearings began on Wednesday, August 27th, 2026, in a lawsuit where 29 US states sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging design flaws in its products that contributed to children becoming addicted and vulnerable to contact by drug dealers, cyberbullying, extortion, and abuse.

Parents who lost children to these harms have voiced that they were “robbed” of seeing evidence of Meta’s knowledge of the dangers. Erin Popolo from Oakland, California, shared the story of her daughter Emily, who joined Facebook and Instagram just before the COVID-19 pandemic to find social connection but faced worsening mental health issues after classmates posted photos of her and cyberbullied her.

Lori Schott, a Colorado resident, said she lost her 18-year-old daughter Annalee to suicide, while Mary Rodee recounted her 15-year-old son’s suicide following online extortion, stating that recent safety measures announced would not have protected him.

In testimony on August 25th, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said the platform introduced a pop-up feature in 2024 for all teen accounts encouraging breaks from scrolling, along with a quiet mode for notifications.

Popolo noted that the number of children represented on their banner outside the Los Angeles court has increased from 356 in March 2026. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health and safety.

Sources