OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Thousands of legal claims accusing prominent social media platforms of fostering harmful and addictive behaviors in young users are ongoing in federal court. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an early appeal filed by Meta Platforms and TikTok. This decision leaves more than 3,000 consolidated federal cases before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The plaintiffs contend that certain features of these platforms encouraged compulsive usage and contributed to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
Meta and TikTok had sought immediate appellate review of decisions from the lower court concerning Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 acts as a defense against liability, not as absolute immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court ruled that the companies could not pursue the appeal at this stage. The ruling did not decide whether Section 230 will ultimately bar any claims. Instead, it permits the ongoing federal proceedings to proceed according to the existing orders from the trial court.
These legal actions include claims from families, individuals, school districts, cities, and state governments. Additionally, plaintiffs have sued Alphabet’s Google, owner of YouTube, and Snap, which runs Snapchat. They allege that social media platforms incorporated features that promoted repeated engagement by young users. The complaints cite supposed links to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. Both Meta and the other companies have denied these allegations. Moreover, about 3,300 related cases are still consolidated in California state court.
States Launch Separate Legal Action Against Meta
Meta is also defending itself in a separate federal lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection for this case is scheduled to begin on Aug. 12 in Oakland. The trial itself is set to start on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal information. They also claim that Facebook and Instagram included features designed to foster compulsive use among minors. The lawsuit further alleges that Meta misled consumers about safety protections on its platforms. Meta has denied any wrongdoing.
Claims are brought under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection laws. States like California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed state law claims within the case. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case before trial, citing ongoing disputes requiring further legal proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations seeking monetary penalties if they prevail. Meta has challenged those figures and disputed the legal basis for the amounts requested.
Notable Rulings Amplify Focus on Youth Protection in Tech Litigation
The wider social media legal battles have already resulted in significant rulings against technology firms. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $567 million for a youth mental health fund and related initiatives. The order also mandated safety measures for Facebook and Instagram for a period of five years. Earlier in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a civil penalty of $375 million. Combined, these decisions put Meta at risk of paying a total of $942 million in the state case.
In another case from Los Angeles in March, a jury found against Meta and Google in a separate lawsuit alleging social media addiction. Jurors determined that the companies were negligent in designing Instagram and YouTube. They awarded $6 million to the plaintiff, who claimed that her childhood use of these platforms caused addiction and mental health damage. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial under undisclosed terms. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal that verdict.