OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Over 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing social media giants of creating addictive platforms can proceed after a U.S. appeals court dismissed an initial challenge. On Aug. 10, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected appeals from Meta Platforms and TikTok. This ruling leaves the consolidated legal action pending before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The plaintiffs contend that the platforms’ features fostered repeated usage, harming children and teenagers.
Meta and TikTok’s appeal was partly based on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. They claimed that the law shielded them from liability for platform content and warnings. However, the appeals court clarified that Section 230 offers a defense against liability rather than immunity from lawsuits. This clarification prevented the companies from pursuing an immediate appeal. The court did not resolve whether Section 230 could later negate specific claims as the case advances in federal court.
Claims have been filed by families, individuals, school districts, municipalities, and state governments in the federal courts. The broader litigation also involves Google and Snap. Plaintiffs allege that these companies employed product designs that encouraged compulsive engagement among younger users, linking these practices to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The defendants deny these allegations. Additionally, California state courts are managing roughly 3,300 consolidated cases with similar social media addiction claims.
States initiate separate child safety lawsuit against Meta
Meta is also facing a distinct federal case brought by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is set to begin on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial scheduled to start on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using minors’ personal data. They further allege that Facebook and Instagram included features that promoted compulsive usage. The case also claims that Meta misled consumers about youth safety protections. Meta denies these allegations and is contesting the claims in court.
This multi-state lawsuit includes claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act as well as various state consumer protection laws. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed claims under their respective statutes. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case prior to trial, citing factual disputes requiring further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations seeking financial penalties should they prevail. Meta disputes those figures and challenges the legal grounds for the requested sanctions.
Recent legal rulings highlight significant judgments and verdicts
Recent court decisions have intensified the legal challenges surrounding social media design and youth safety. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico 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 jury in New Mexico imposed an additional $375 million civil penalty. These rulings collectively expose Meta to a combined financial liability of $942 million in the New Mexico case.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in March regarding social media addiction. The jury awarded $6 million to a young woman who claimed that childhood exposure to Instagram and YouTube resulted in addiction and mental health issues. TikTok and Snap reached settlement agreements with the plaintiff before trial, under undisclosed terms. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict. These federal and state cases now span multiple courts, involving thousands of claims related to youth engagement with social media.