OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – A multitude of lawsuits accusing prominent social media platforms of fostering harmful and addictive behaviors among minors will proceed in federal courts. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an initial appeal submitted by Meta Platforms and TikTok. This decision leaves over 3,000 consolidated federal lawsuits pending before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs claim that certain platform features encouraged compulsive usage, which contributed to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
Meta and TikTok attempted to seek immediate appellate review of rulings from lower courts concerning Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appellate court clarified that Section 230 acts as a defense against liability rather than granting immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court ruled that the companies could not pursue an appeal at this stage. The ruling did not address whether Section 230 would ultimately bar the claims, instead allowing the federal proceedings to move forward based on the current trial court orders.
The lawsuit encompasses claims from families, individuals, school districts, cities, and state governments. Additionally, plaintiffs have filed suits against Alphabet’s Google, owner of YouTube, and Snap, operator of Snapchat. The allegations assert that social media firms engineered features that promoted repeated engagement by young users. Plaintiffs cite potential links to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The involved companies deny the allegations. Around 3,300 related cases also remain consolidated in California state court.
States pursue separate legal action against Meta
Meta is also defending itself in a distinct federal lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection for this case is set for Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial scheduled to commence on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and utilizing children’s personal data. They further allege that Facebook and Instagram incorporated features encouraging compulsive use among minors. The lawsuit also claims Meta misled consumers regarding safety protections on its platforms. Meta denies any misconduct.
The claims are brought under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection laws. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have additional state law claims included in the case. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case before trial, citing unresolved disputes that require further proceedings. Several states have submitted financial penalty calculations, seeking monetary damages if they succeed. Meta has contested these figures and challenged the legal foundation of the requested amounts.
Landmark rulings in youth safety lawsuits broaden legal challenges
High-profile rulings in the wider social media litigation landscape have already set significant precedents against technology giants. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to allocate $567 million toward a youth mental health fund and associated programs. The court also mandated safety measures for Facebook and Instagram for five years. Earlier, in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty. These decisions collectively impose a financial exposure of $942 million on Meta within the state case.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury ruled against Meta and Google in March, in a separate lawsuit concerning social media addiction. The jury found the companies negligent in designing Instagram and YouTube, awarding $6 million to the plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed that childhood exposure to these platforms contributed to addiction and mental health issues. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial under undisclosed terms. Both Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal this verdict.