OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – More than 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing major technology companies of promoting addictive social media use can continue in court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an early appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. The decision keeps the consolidated cases before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. Plaintiffs say platform features encouraged compulsive use among children and teenagers. They also link that use to several mental health harms.
The appeal centered on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Meta and TikTok contended that the law shields them from claims related to platform content and warnings. According to the appeals court, Section 230 serves as a defense against liability, not an immunity from lawsuits. This ruling prevents the companies from pursuing appellate review at this point. The court did not determine whether Section 230 could later negate individual claims, leaving existing trial court orders in effect.
Claims from individuals, families, school districts, cities, and state governments comprise the federal litigation. Google and Snap are also named in the broader case. The plaintiffs accuse these companies of developing social media platforms that foster repeated engagement among young users. Allegations include depression, anxiety, concerns over body image, and other supposed damages. The companies deny these allegations. Additionally, approximately 3,300 similar cases are consolidated in California state court.
Multistate Meta lawsuit advances toward jury selection
Meta faces a separate federal case filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection for this case is scheduled to start on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial expected to commence on Aug. 17. The states allege that Meta unlawfully collected and used children’s personal data, including features on Facebook and Instagram that promote compulsive use. They further claim that Meta misled consumers regarding platform safety and protections for younger users. Meta denies these charges.
The case involves allegations under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act along with multiple state consumer protection laws. Claims have also been filed under state law by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes requiring further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations seeking financial penalties if they prevail. Meta contests those figures and challenges the legal foundation of the requested sanctions.
Recent judicial decisions intensify youth safety legal battles
Decisions in other cases have already resulted in substantial judgments related to social media design and child safety. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to allocate $567 million toward a youth mental health fund and related programs. The ruling also mandates safety features on Facebook and Instagram for a period of five years. Earlier, in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty. These rulings combined result in a total exposure of $942 million for Meta in that state case.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in March, related to a social media addiction lawsuit. Jurors determined both companies were responsible for the design of Instagram and YouTube that led to addiction and mental health issues. They awarded $6 million to a young woman claiming harm from childhood use of these platforms. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff prior to trial on undisclosed terms, while Meta and Google announced their intention to appeal the verdict in California.