OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Over 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing social media companies of creating addictive platforms can proceed after a U.S. appeals court rejected an early challenge. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed appeals from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. The ruling maintains the consolidated case before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs allege that these platforms harmed children and teenagers through features designed to promote repeated usage.
Meta and TikTok’s challenge relied partly 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 acts as a defense against liability rather than granting immunity from lawsuits outright. This clarification prevented the companies from pursuing an immediate appeal. The court did not decide whether Section 230 could ultimately dismiss specific claims as the cases move through federal courts.
Claims have been filed by families, individuals, school districts, municipalities, and state governments in the federal process. The larger litigation also includes Google and Snap. Plaintiffs accuse these companies of employing product features that foster compulsive engagement among younger users. They link such practices to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The companies deny the allegations. Additionally, about 3,300 consolidated cases involving similar social media addiction claims are ongoing in California state courts.
States initiate separate child safety lawsuit against Meta
Meta faces a distinct federal lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is set to start Aug. 12 in Oakland, with trial scheduled for Aug. 17. The states allege that Meta unlawfully gathered and exploited children’s personal data. They also claim that Facebook and Instagram included features encouraging compulsive use, and that Meta misled consumers regarding youth safety protections. Meta denies these charges and is defending itself in court.
This multistate lawsuit involves claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection laws. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed claims under their respective statutes. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes that require further examination. Several states have submitted calculations seeking monetary penalties if they prevail. Meta disputes these figures and challenges the legal basis for the proposed sanctions.
Notable legal decisions and verdicts in recent social media cases
Recent court rulings have intensified the legal debate over social media design and youth safety. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a youth mental health fund and implement related programs. The order also mandates five years of safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. In March, a New Mexico jury imposed a separate civil penalty of $375 million. Collectively, these decisions expose Meta to $942 million in financial liabilities in that state’s case.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in March 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 damage. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial on undisclosed terms. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict. The ongoing federal and state proceedings involve numerous claims related to youth social media use and are spread across multiple courts.