OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Amid ongoing concerns over the impact of social media on young users, thousands of lawsuits accusing major platforms of fostering harmful and addictive behaviors can proceed in federal court. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an early appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. This decision keeps over 3,000 consolidated federal cases in front of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. 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 attempted to seek immediate appellate review of lower court rulings concerning Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 serves as a defense to liability, not an immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court ruled that the companies could not pursue an appeal at this stage. The ruling did not decide whether Section 230 would ultimately bar any of the claims but permitted the continuation of federal proceedings based on the existing trial court orders.
The ongoing litigation involves claims from families, individuals, educational institutions, cities, and state governments. Additionally, plaintiffs have filed suits against Alphabet’s Google, owner of YouTube, and Snap, operator of Snapchat. The complaints allege that social media platforms incorporated features designed to promote repeated engagement among young users. Alleged links to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health problems are cited as part of the claims. Both Meta and the other defendants deny these allegations. Furthermore, around 3,300 related cases remain consolidated in California state court.
States pursue 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 start on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial set to commence on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal data. They also claim that Facebook and Instagram included features that encouraged compulsive usage among minors and that Meta misled consumers about safety protections on its platforms. Meta has denied any wrongdoing.
The legal claims are based on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act as well as various state consumer protection laws. States like California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have added their own state law claims to the case. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case before trial, citing unresolved disputes requiring further proceedings. Several states have proposed financial penalties if they prevail, but Meta disputes the calculations and questions the legal basis for the amounts sought.
Broader rulings influence youth safety legal battles
This wave of social media-related litigation has already led to significant rulings against tech companies. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to allocate $567 million for a youth mental health fund and associated programs. The order also mandated safety measures on Facebook and Instagram for five years. Earlier in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty, bringing the total potential financial exposure for Meta in this case to $942 million.
In a separate case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in a social media addiction lawsuit. The jury awarded $6 million to the plaintiff, who claimed that her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube resulted in addiction and mental health damages. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before the trial under undisclosed terms. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict.