Health professionals warn of social media’s harmful effects on youth, with prominent voices like former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calling the crisis an emergency and citing social media as a contributing factor.

The trial is set to last roughly six to seven weeks, starting with jury selection and featuring dozens of witnesses, including Meta executives and researchers; testimony may allege knowingly misleading statements about harms.

Meta denies the allegations, arguing harms arise from user content and that Section 230 shields it from liability for third-party posts, while stressing protective controls, age-appropriate defaults, and parental tools.

Meta and other tech firms emphasize safeguarding children and frame the lawsuits as targeting platform design and safety claims rather than user-generated content.

Meta Platforms faces a Tennessee trial over allegations that Instagram’s design and features contribute to a youth mental-health crisis and violate the state’s consumer protection law.

New Mexico previously held a trial finding misrepresentation about safety and is weighing additional damages and corrective actions as part of a public nuisance claim.

A separate California case involving 29 states about data collection practices is slated for August, underscoring continued regulatory scrutiny.

Observers see big uncertainty for Meta’s operations and regulatory expectations amid ongoing legal challenges to its business practices and platform safety commitments.

Past settlements, including New Mexico’s $375 million verdict in a related safety suit, illustrate significant financial risk despite Meta’s strong cash position.

Investors are watching the trial for possible penalties or injunctions that could force changes to Instagram’s interface or algorithms, potentially impacting Meta’s engagement-driven model.

The Tennessee trial could shape broader regulatory and legal outcomes for Meta regarding youth safety and platform design.

EU regulators are examining Meta for addictive design, with potential penalties up to 6% of global revenue if preliminary findings hold, and are urging safeguards like screen-time reminders and limits on addictive features.