Four US states, California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, say the company deliberately designed its platforms to keep children and teenagers hooked, while downplaying the risks those apps might pose.

In a recent court filing, Meta itself disclosed that the four states are seeking around USD 1.4 trillion in penalties if they win at trial. The figure, revealed ahead of an August youth safety trial in federal court in Oakland, California, is close to Meta's market value of roughly USD 1.5 trillion. Meta argues the proposed sanction "has no analog in the history of consumer protection enforcement" and says the amount is not supported by the evidence.

The states allege Meta built Facebook and Instagram with features that encourage excessive use, especially among young users, while misleading families about safety. Their complaints echo broader lawsuits from dozens of other attorneys general, who say addictive design and constant alerts have contributed to a wider youth mental health crisis. Meta has denied wrongdoing but has warned investors that legal and regulatory action over social media's impact on youth could significantly affect its business.

Even as Meta prepares for the US youth safety trial, regulators in India are scrutinising its new WhatsApp usernames feature. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked Meta to pause rollout and explain how the option to chat without sharing phone numbers will avoid impersonation, fraud and identity spoofing. WhatsApp says usernames will be optional, that many high-profile names and variations are reserved, and that users will see safety signals such as country and account age before replying to unknown contacts.

For Meta, the $1.4 trillion lawsuit is more than a headline number; it captures growing political and public impatience with how social platforms treat children and teens. With US states pursuing unprecedented penalties and India demanding clearer safeguards on WhatsApp, the company now faces a defining test of whether its safety measures can convince regulators that profit no longer comes before protection.

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