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 this law protected them from claims related to platform content and warnings. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 serves as a defense against liability, not immunity from lawsuits. This ruling prevented the companies from seeking appellate review at this point. The court did not determine whether Section 230 might later dismiss individual claims. As a result, existing trial court orders remain enforceable.
Claims brought by individuals, families, school districts, cities, and state governments are included in these federal cases. Additionally, Google and Snap have been named in the broader litigation. The plaintiffs accuse these companies of designing social media platforms that foster repeated engagement by young users. Allegations include depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other purported harms. Both companies deny these accusations. Furthermore, around 3,300 related cases with similar claims are consolidated in California state court.
Meta’s Multistate Suit Approaching Jury Selection
Meta faces 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 for Aug. 17. The states allege that Meta unlawfully collected and used children’s personal data and that Facebook and Instagram included features encouraging compulsive behavior. They further claim Meta misled consumers regarding platform safety and protections for younger users. Meta denies these charges.
The lawsuit involves claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and multiple state consumer protection statutes. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed state law claims. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes that warrant further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations for potential financial penalties if they win, though Meta disputes these figures and questions the legal basis for such penalties.
Legal Decisions in Recent Youth Safety Cases Increase Litigation Pressure
Decisions in recent cases have resulted in substantial financial judgments related to social media design and child protection issues. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to allocate $567 million toward a youth mental health fund and related programs, while also mandating safety features on Facebook and Instagram for five years. A jury in New Mexico had previously imposed a $375 million civil penalty in March. These two rulings together expose Meta to $942 million in potential liability within that state.
Additionally, a Los Angeles jury ruled against Meta and Google in March, in a distinct social media addiction lawsuit. Jurors found both companies negligent in designing Instagram and YouTube. They awarded $6 million to a young woman who claimed addiction and mental health issues stemming from childhood use of these platforms. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before the trial under undisclosed terms. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the California verdict.