OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – As of now, over 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing leading technology firms of fostering addictive social media behaviors are permitted to proceed in court. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an initial appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok. This ruling maintains the status quo for the consolidated litigation before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs claim that features within these platforms promote compulsive use among children and teenagers, linking this behavior to various mental health issues.
The appeal centered around Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Both Meta and TikTok contended that this law offers protection from claims related to platform content and warnings. The appellate court clarified that Section 230 functions as a defense against liability, not as immunity from lawsuits. This interpretation prevented the companies from seeking appellate review at this stage. The court stopped short of ruling on whether Section 230 could eventually dismiss individual claims, leaving the existing trial court orders in place.
The broad federal lawsuits encompass claims brought by individuals, families, school districts, cities, and state agencies. Additionally, Google and Snap are also defendants in this extensive legal action. The plaintiffs accuse these companies of designing social media services that incentivize repeated engagement from younger users, citing issues such as depression, anxiety, body image disturbances, and other alleged damages. Both companies deny these allegations. Furthermore, approximately 3,300 similar cases involving comparable claims are also consolidated in California state court.
Meta faces a multistate jury trial over youth addiction concerns
In a separate legal matter, Meta is also defending a federal lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial set for Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and exploiting children’s personal data. They also allege that Facebook and Instagram incorporated features designed to promote compulsive use. The case further claims that Meta misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and protections for younger users. Meta denies all accusations.
Claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act along with various state consumer protection statutes underpin the case. States including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also contributed to the lawsuit with their own state law claims. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case prior to trial, citing factual disagreements that require further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations of potential financial penalties should they prevail. Meta disputes both the figures and the legal basis for such penalties.
Recent rulings increase pressure on youth safety-related litigation
Earlier decisions have already resulted in substantial judgments related to social media safety and child protection. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to allocate $567 million toward a youth mental health fund and associated programs. Additionally, the ruling mandates safety improvements on Facebook and Instagram for five years. A separate jury decision from March had imposed a $375 million civil penalty on Meta, leading to a combined financial exposure of $942 million in that case.
Furthermore, a Los Angeles jury found against Meta and Google in March in a different lawsuit concerning social media addiction. Jurors determined that both companies acted negligently in designing Instagram and YouTube. The jury awarded $6 million to a young woman who claimed addiction and mental health harm stemming from childhood use of the platforms. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff prior to trial on undisclosed terms, while Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the California verdict.