A major US trial against Meta has begun, with 29 states alleging that the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive and targeted children. The case follows earlier legal setbacks, including a Los Angeles jury finding Meta and YouTube liable for harm caused by addictive product design, and a separate New Mexico case concerning child sexual exploitation. Attorneys general are seeking $200 billion in damages, although Meta disputes both the allegations and the scale of the demands. More significantly, the states could seek changes to Meta’s recommendation algorithms, which encourage engagement by selecting content likely to hold users’ attention. Such restrictions could reduce usage and advertising revenue, potentially transforming social media. However, previous litigation against powerful industries, including tobacco and Google, suggests that even ‘landmark’ defeats may result in less dramatic penalties than initially expected. Meta maintains that it has strong protections for teenagers and says the states’ claims are unsubstantiated.