OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Over 3,000 federal lawsuits accusing major tech giants of fostering addictive social media habits will continue to be heard in court. On Aug. 10, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an early appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok. This ruling maintains the cases under the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The plaintiffs allege that features within these platforms promoted compulsive engagement among children and teenagers, and they connect such usage to numerous mental health issues.
The appeal centered on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Both Meta and TikTok contended that the law offered them protection against claims related to platform content and warnings. The appellate court clarified that Section 230 functions as a defense against liability, rather than granting immunity from lawsuits. As a result, the companies could not pursue an appellate review at this stage. The court explicitly did not determine whether Section 230 might eventually shield them from individual claims. Therefore, existing orders from the trial court remain in effect.
These federal lawsuits encompass claims filed by individuals, families, school districts, cities, and state governments. Google and Snap are also defendants in the broader litigation. The plaintiffs accuse these companies of designing social media platforms that incentivize repeated usage by young users, citing issues like depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and other perceived harms. The companies deny the allegations. An additional roughly 3,300 related cases with similar claims are consolidated in California state court.
Meta’s Multistate Case Advances to Jury Selection
Meta faces a separate federal lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is scheduled to begin 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 information and allege that Facebook and Instagram featured elements encouraging compulsive use. The case further claims that Meta misled users about platform safety and protections for younger audiences. Meta denies these accusations.
Claims in this case involve violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, along with various state consumer protection laws. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed state law claims. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes requiring further proceedings. Multiple states have submitted calculations for potential financial penalties if they succeed. Meta disputes both the legal basis and the figures presented for these penalties.
Recent Rulings Increase Pressure on Youth Safety Litigation
Decisions in recent cases have already resulted in substantial judgments related to social media design and child safety concerns. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to contribute $567 million to a youth mental health fund and related initiatives. The ruling also mandates safety measures on Facebook and Instagram for the next five years. A jury in New Mexico previously imposed a $375 million civil penalty in March. Combined, these decisions expose Meta to a financial liability of $942 million in that state.
Additionally, a Los Angeles jury ruled against Meta and Google in March, in a separate lawsuit over social media addiction. Jurors found both companies negligent in designing Instagram and YouTube. They awarded $6 million to a young woman claiming addiction and mental health harm stemming from childhood use of these platforms. TikTok and Snap reached settlements with the plaintiff prior to trial, under undisclosed terms. Both Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict in California.