By: Richard L. Smith
A federal judge has denied an attempt by Meta Platforms to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the company of designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that allegedly harm children and teenagers, clearing the way for the case to proceed to trial.
According to information sent by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the lawsuit—filed by New Jersey and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from across the country—is scheduled to go to trial in August 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The lawsuit alleges Meta intentionally designed features on Facebook and Instagram to keep young users engaged for longer periods in an effort to increase profits.
State attorneys general contend those features contributed to addictive use among children and teens, resulting in mental and physical health concerns while the company allegedly misled the public about the risks.
The court rejected Meta’s motion for summary judgment, allowing the coalition’s claims to continue.
The judge also determined that New Jersey presented sufficient evidence to pursue claims that Meta failed to obtain parental consent in a manner that complies with the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which protects the online privacy of children under the age of 13.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the lawsuit was filed in 2023 and alleges Meta violated both COPPA and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act through the design and operation of Facebook and Instagram.
New Jersey is co-leading the bipartisan legal effort as the case moves toward trial later this summer.