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. The ruling preserves the consolidated litigation under the supervision of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs argue that these platforms harmed children and teenagers through features that promoted repeated use.
Meta and TikTok’s challenge relied in part on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. They claimed that the law offered protection 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 interpretation prevented the companies from pursuing an immediate appeal. The judges did not decide whether Section 230 could later defeat specific claims as the cases advance through federal courts.
Families, individuals, school districts, municipalities, and state governments have brought claims in the federal case. The broader litigation also involves Google and Snap. Plaintiffs allege that the companies used product designs that fostered compulsive engagement among younger users, linking these practices to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The companies deny these allegations. Additionally, California state courts are handling around 3,300 consolidated cases involving similar social media addiction claims.
States file separate child safety lawsuit against Meta
Meta faces another federal case initiated by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is set to begin Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial scheduled to commence on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and exploiting children’s personal data. They further allege that Facebook and Instagram incorporated features that encouraged compulsive use, and that Meta misled consumers regarding youth safety protections. Meta has denied these allegations and is actively contesting the case in court.
This multistate 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 laws. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes that require further proceedings. Several states have submitted estimates for financial penalties should they succeed, which Meta disputes on both the legal basis and the calculations involved.
Notable recent rulings highlight ongoing legal battles over social media safety
Recent judicial decisions have intensified the legal scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on youth. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to allocate $567 million to a youth mental health fund and to implement related safety initiatives on Facebook and Instagram over five years. In March, a New Mexico jury also imposed a separate $375 million civil penalty. Collectively, these rulings expose Meta to potential liabilities totaling $942 million in the state’s legal actions.
In another case from Los Angeles, a 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 issues. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before the trial, terms undisclosed. Both Meta and Google announced plans to appeal that verdict. Currently, federal and state courts handle numerous claims linked to youth social media use, spanning several jurisdictions.