US states sue Meta over how Instagram tracks children's data

What happens when a teenager opens Instagram? Behind the scenes, a lot is happening—and that is exactly what worries many people. Right now, multiple US states are suing Meta, the company that owns both Instagram and Facebook, over how it handles children's personal information online.

The core issue is this: social media platforms collect enormous amounts of data from young users. They learn what kids like, what they search for, what they watch, and even where they are. This information becomes valuable—companies use it to show personalized ads. But critics argue that Meta prioritizes profit over safety. They say the company has not done enough to protect children from addiction, mental health problems, or privacy dangers.

If the states win this lawsuit, the consequences could reshape the entire social media landscape. Meta might be forced to redesign its algorithms—the invisible rules that decide which posts and ads appear on your screen. The company could lose the ability to collect detailed personal data from young users the way it does today. That would directly threaten the profit model that currently drives both platforms.

This is not the first legal challenge Meta has faced. Over the past few years, the company has paid billions in fines for privacy violations. However, this case feels different because it targets the core business practices that affect millions of young people. Parents, educators, and lawmakers increasingly believe that social media platforms have become too powerful and too careless with children's information.

What makes this trial particularly significant is timing. Gen Z—people born roughly between 1997 and 2012—have grown up with these platforms. They have never known a world without Instagram or Facebook. Yet new research consistently shows links between heavy social media use and depression, anxiety, and poor sleep in teenagers. The states argue that Meta knew about these risks but ignored them.

Meta argues that it already has safety features in place. The company points to parental controls, age restrictions, and educational resources. However, critics counter that these measures are easy to bypass and that the company's own internal documents suggest leadership was aware of potential harms.

Whatever the court decides, this case signals a larger shift. Governments around the world are starting to hold tech companies accountable. Europe has stricter rules about data privacy. Other US states are considering similar lawsuits. Even Meta competitors face pressure to prove they protect young users.

The question now is not whether change will come to social media, but how fast and how deep that change will be. If Meta loses, we could see a very different internet for the next generation. Young people might find fewer personalized ads, more parental oversight, or even restrictions on features designed to keep them scrolling for hours. That would be a historic moment for the platform economy.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.