California lawsuit against Meta claiming it harms youth, begins Tuesday

California and other states are going to trial against Meta, accusing the social media company of profiting off of young users by developing addictive features that cause physical and mental harm. California is also accusing Meta of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting children's personal data without their parents' permission. Opening statements are scheduled to begin in the U.S> District Court for the Northern District of California on August 18, 2026.