OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Over 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing social media companies of creating addictive products can proceed after a U.S. appeals court dismissed an early challenge. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected appeals from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. This ruling keeps the consolidated cases before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs argue that these platforms harmed children and teens by incorporating features that promoted repeated usage.
Meta and TikTok’s challenge relied partly on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. They claimed that the law shielded them from claims related to platform content and warnings. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 offers a defense against liability, not outright immunity from lawsuits. This distinction prevented the companies from immediately appealing. The judges did not decide if Section 230 could later block specific claims as the cases advance through federal courts.
Claims have been filed by families, individuals, school districts, municipalities, and state governments. The broader litigation also involves Google and Snap. Plaintiffs accuse these companies of designing products that foster compulsive use among younger users. They link these practices to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The companies deny these allegations. California state courts have about 3,300 similar consolidated cases involving social media addiction claims.
States pursue separate child protection lawsuit against Meta
Meta faces a distinct federal case brought by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection begins Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial set to start Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal data. They also claim Facebook and Instagram included features that encouraged compulsive behavior. The case alleges Meta misled consumers about youth safety protections. Meta denies these accusations and is fighting the claims in court.
This multistate case involves claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer laws. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed claims under their own statutes. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes requiring further review. Several states have submitted calculations seeking penalties if they win. Meta disputes those figures and contests the legal basis of the penalties requested.
Major judgments and verdicts impact ongoing legal battles
Recent court rulings have shaped the legal landscape on 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 related programs. The order also mandates five years of safety measures for Facebook and Instagram. In March, a New Mexico jury imposed an additional $375 million civil penalty. Combined, these decisions expose Meta to $942 million in potential costs in New Mexico.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in March regarding social media addiction. Jurors awarded $6 million to a young woman who claimed that her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube caused addiction and mental health issues. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial on undisclosed terms. Meta and Google announced plans to appeal. The ongoing legal proceedings involve multiple courts and thousands of claims related to youth social media use.