• Lawsuit claims meta prioritized teen usage on Instagram
• Documents reveal knowledge of millions of underage users

A lawsuit has been filed against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, accusing the platform of tracking teen usage and making it a priority to increase the time they spend on the app, despite being aware of a large number of underage users.

Internal documents show that average daily usage grew from 40 minutes per day in 2023 to 46 minutes per day in 2026, with the company setting goals specifically to increase the time teens spent on the platform.

The lawsuit claims Instagram’s addictive design and focus on younger users contributed to mental health issues for the 19-year-old plaintiff. The case highlights ongoing debates over social media companies’ responsibility for the psychological effects of their platforms, particularly on vulnerable youth, and aims to show that Instagram deliberately targeted minors for profit despite knowing the potential harms.

The trial, titled K.G.M. v. Platforms et al., is underway in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where a jury will determine whether social media companies like Meta are liable for mental health problems among youth caused by their platforms.

Internal records indicate that Meta was aware of millions of underage users but did not take measures to address the issue until 2021, when users were first required to enter their birthdays.

Documents from 2015 show Instagram knew of roughly four million children under the age of 13 on the app, representing about 30% of all 10–12-year-olds in the United States.