OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – A multitude of lawsuits accusing leading social media firms of fostering harmful and addictive behaviors among young users will continue to be heard in federal courts. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an initial appeal lodged by Meta Platforms and TikTok. This ruling maintains over 3,000 consolidated federal cases under the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs claim that certain features of these platforms encouraged compulsive engagement and contributed to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
Meta and TikTok attempted to seek expedited appellate review of decisions made by lower courts concerning Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 serves as a defense against liability, rather than providing immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court determined that the companies could not pursue their appeal at this stage. This ruling does not decide whether Section 230 will ultimately prevent any of the claims from proceeding. Instead, it permits the ongoing federal litigation to move forward under the existing orders from the trial court.
The case involves claims from families, individuals, educational institutions, municipalities, and state governments. Plaintiffs have also filed suits against Alphabet’s Google, the owner of YouTube, and Snap, which operates Snapchat. They argue that these social media platforms incorporated features designed to promote repeated use by young audiences. Allegations link these features to issues such as depression, anxiety, concerns about body image, and other mental health problems. The companies deny these allegations. Additionally, approximately 3,300 related cases remain consolidated in California state courts.
States pursue a separate legal action against Meta
Meta is also facing a distinct federal lawsuit initiated by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection for this case is scheduled to commence on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial set to begin on Aug. 17. The states allege that Meta unlawfully collected and used children’s personal data. They also claim that Facebook and Instagram included features that fostered compulsive usage among minors. The lawsuit further accuses Meta of misleading consumers about safety measures on its platforms. Meta denies any wrongdoing.
Claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection laws form the basis of the lawsuit. Additionally, California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have filed state law claims within the case. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the litigation before it went to trial, citing unresolved disputes requiring further proceedings. Some states have submitted calculations seeking financial penalties if they win. Meta has challenged these figures and disputes the legal foundation of the requested amounts.
Key rulings further expand youth safety litigation
The wider legal actions against social media platforms have already led to significant rulings. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to allocate $567 million for a youth mental health fund and related initiatives. The order also mandated safety measures for Facebook and Instagram over a five-year period. Earlier in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty. These decisions combined create a total financial exposure of $942 million for Meta in that state case.
In a separate case, a jury in Los Angeles found Meta and Google negligent in a lawsuit related to social media addiction. The jury awarded $6 million to the plaintiff, who claimed that childhood exposure to Instagram and YouTube led to addiction and mental health issues. Meanwhile, TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial under undisclosed terms. Both Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict.