OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – More than 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing social media companies of designing addictive products can continue after a U.S. appeals court rejected an early challenge. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned aside appeals from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. This decision maintains the consolidated litigation before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs allege that the platforms harmed children and teenagers through features that promoted repeated usage.
Meta and TikTok argued their challenge in part based on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. They contended that this law shields them from claims related to platform content and warnings. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 offers a defense against liability, not complete immunity from lawsuits. This distinction prevented the companies from pursuing an immediate appeal. The judges did not determine whether Section 230 could later dismiss specific claims as the cases proceed in federal court.
Claims have been filed by families, individuals, school districts, municipalities, and state governments in the federal process. The broader litigation also involves Google and Snap. Plaintiffs accuse these companies of employing product designs that foster compulsive engagement among younger users. They connect these alleged practices with issues like depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and other mental health challenges. The companies deny the allegations. Additionally, California state courts have about 3,300 consolidated cases concerning similar social media addiction claims.
States initiate separate child safety lawsuit against Meta
Meta faces a distinct federal lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is set to begin Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial scheduled to start Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal data. They also claim that Facebook and Instagram included features that encouraged compulsive use. The case further alleges that Meta misled consumers regarding protections for youth safety. Meta denies these accusations and is contesting the claims in court.
This multistate case incorporates claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection statutes. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also brought claims under their respective laws. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes requiring further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations requesting financial penalties if they prevail. Meta disputes these calculations and challenges the legal grounds for the penalties sought.
Major rulings and verdicts emerge from other social media cases
Recent judicial decisions have contributed significantly to the legal debate over social media design and youth protection. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to allocate $567 million for a youth mental health fund and related initiatives. The ruling also mandates five years of safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. In March, a New Mexico jury imposed a separate $375 million civil penalty. These rulings combined create a potential financial exposure of $942 million for Meta in the New Mexico litigation.
Additionally, a jury in Los Angeles found Meta and Google negligent in March in another case concerning social media addiction. Jurors awarded $6 million to a young woman who claimed that her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube led to addiction and mental health issues. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff prior to trial on undisclosed terms. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal that verdict. Currently, the federal and state cases span multiple courts and involve thousands of claims related to youth social media use.