Meta Platforms is set to appear in federal court Tuesday in Oakland, California, for a closely watched trial over alleged harms tied to Facebook and Instagram use by children and teens. Bloomberg reports that a coalition of state attorneys general is challenging Meta over claims that the company deliberately designed the apps to encourage compulsive use among young users. Engadget reports that the case follows a 2023 lawsuit from dozens of states, after a multistate investigation into Meta’s safety practices. The states allege Meta intentionally created addictive features and violated consumer-protection laws. The company lost a last-minute effort to dismiss the case last week, according to Engadget. The claims in this trial are narrower than the full wave of litigation facing Meta, but they are still potentially significant. Engadget reports that U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will hear consumer-protection claims from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, which accuse Meta of misleading the public about the safety of its apps. Those four states and 25 others are also pursuing claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, according to Engadget. The states allege Meta knew Facebook and Instagram had users under 13 and collected data about them without permission. Bloomberg’s summary does not mention COPPA, but it corroborates the central allegation that Meta is being challenged over design choices said to encourage compulsive use among young users. The potential penalties are disputed. Engadget reports that California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey have not publicly disclosed the amount they plan to seek, but Meta said in a court filing that the states were seeking penalties as high as $1.4 trillion. Engadget, citing remarks reported by Law360, says Judge Rogers has already indicated that figure is unreasonable, while also questioning Meta’s proposed estimate of $4 million. Meta disputes the allegations. Engadget reports that the company says the states’ claims are unproven and that the requested penalties are disproportionate. The trial could include testimony from senior Meta officials, including Mark Zuckerberg, according to Engadget. The case lands while Meta is already fighting thousands of lawsuits over user safety and alleged teen mental-health harms. Engadget reports that juries in Los Angeles and New Mexico have already ruled against Meta in trials involving similar issues, and that Meta has said it will appeal both. The company also reported $2.4 billion in legal costs in the second quarter of 2026 alone, according to Engadget. Who benefits: Too early to tell. Engadget reports that another loss for Meta could give other lawsuits an easier path forward. Who's exposed: Meta is the directly exposed party, both through potential penalties and through the claims being heard in this trial.