Facebook, Instagram's trial for negative effects on kids

Don't be surprised that social media bans might have loopholes or weaknesses that still allow children to get onto those platforms. At the end of the day, parents still need to educate and guide their children on the dangers and proper usage of such apps. — 123rf

The trial that began in Oakland, California, United States, earlier this month (August 2026) was, in a practical sense, about the phone in your child’s hand.

It ended abruptly last Wednesday (Aug 26), in its second week, when Meta agreed to pay up to US$18bil (RM72.6bil), one of the largest consumer settlements in American history, rather than let a jury and judge decide the outcome.