Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will face lawsuits from several U.S. states accusing it of causing mental health issues in teens by making Facebook and Instagram addictive.
On Tuesday, a federal judge in California ruled against Meta’s effort to dismiss these claims, allowing the lawsuits to move forward.
The lawsuits, brought by over 30 states, including California, New York, and separately, Florida, were filed last year.
The states accuse Meta of designing its platforms to exploit teens and fuel issues like anxiety and depression by creating addictive algorithms.
While Judge Rogers acknowledged that a federal law, Section 230, shields Meta from certain liability, she ruled that enough evidence exists regarding misleading statements made by the company to allow the majority of the states’ claims to move forward.
The judge also dismissed Meta’s motion, alongside those from TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, to throw out related personal injury lawsuits from individuals. This decision paves the way for further discovery and potential trials, though it is not a final ruling on the merits of the cases.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted the significance of the ruling, stating that Meta “needs to be held accountable for the very real harm it has inflicted on children here in California and across the country.” Lawyers representing plaintiffs in the personal injury cases called it a “significant victory for young people nationwide.”
In response, a Meta spokesperson expressed disagreement with the decision, pointing to the company’s tools to support parents and teens, including new “Teen Accounts” on Instagram with enhanced protections.
Google, which faces similar claims, called the allegations untrue, asserting its commitment to providing young people with a safer online experience. TikTok and Snapchat have yet to comment.
The lawsuits seek to end Meta’s alleged harmful business practices and request monetary damages.
Hundreds of similar lawsuits have also been filed, accusing social media companies of ignoring the risks their platforms pose to adolescents, including fostering anxiety, depression, and body-image issues.
As the cases proceed, both states and individuals aim to hold social media giants accountable for their impact on teen mental health, setting the stage for a legal battle with far-reaching implications.