Say goodbye to doomscrolling and Stories? Some of Meta’s biggest features are on trial.

A landmark lawsuit brought by several U.S. states could force major changes to the way Meta's popular social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, operate. The case, set to begin on August 18 in Oakland, California, and expected to last several weeks, accuses Meta of intentionally designing its apps to keep children and teenagers online while hiding potential harms.

The allegations include the use of psychologically compelling features to "hook" young users, holding their attention, harvesting personal data, and concealing evidence of harm from the public. If the states' claims are proven, Meta may face significant financial and operational consequences, including redesigning or removing features like infinite scrolling, autoplay, and algorithm-driven feeds.

The lawsuit also alleges that Meta failed to adequately protect children's data and safety, with former safety engineer Arturo Béjar testifying about his concerns and experiences with the company's handling of child safety issues.