OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – More than 3,000 combined federal lawsuits against leading social media platforms can proceed in court, as the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an early appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. This decision keeps these cases, consolidated before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, alive. The plaintiffs claim that certain features of these platforms foster compulsive behavior and have contributed to mental health issues among children and adolescents.
Meta and TikTok tried to get an immediate appeal of the lower court rulings concerning Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 offers a defense against liability but does not provide immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court determined that the companies could not pursue the appeal at this phase. The ruling does not decide whether Section 230 will ultimately prevent the claims from proceeding, but allows the ongoing federal litigation to continue under existing court orders.
The lawsuit encompasses claims from families, individuals, school districts, cities, and state authorities. Additionally, plaintiffs have filed suits against Alphabet’s Google, owner of YouTube, and Snap, the operator of Snapchat. They contend that social media platforms incorporated features designed to increase engagement among young users. Allegations include links to depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and other mental health issues. The defendants deny these allegations. Furthermore, around 3,300 related cases remain consolidated in California state courts.
States file separate lawsuit against Meta
Meta faces an independent federal case initiated by 29 state attorneys general, with jury selection scheduled for Aug. 12 in Oakland and trial set to start on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and utilizing children’s personal data. They also claim that Facebook and Instagram included features encouraging compulsive use among minors. The lawsuit further alleges that Meta misled users regarding safety protections on its platforms. Meta denies any wrongdoing.
The claims are brought under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act along with various state consumer protection laws. Claims from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are also part of the case. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the case before trial, citing unresolved disputes requiring further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations seeking financial penalties if they succeed. Meta has challenged these figures and disputed the legal basis for the amounts requested.
Major rulings expand legal pressure on social media platforms over youth safety
Significant decisions against tech companies have already been made in broader social media litigation. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to allocate $567 million for a youth mental health fund and associated programs, while imposing safety mandates on Facebook and Instagram for five years. Earlier, in March, a New Mexico jury penalized Meta with a $375 million civil fine. These rulings combine for a total potential liability of $942 million for Meta within the state case.
In another legal setback, a Los Angeles jury found against Meta and Google in a separate social media addiction suit in March. The jury determined that both companies were negligent in designing Instagram and YouTube, awarding $6 million to the plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed that usage of these platforms during childhood led to addiction and mental health issues. Before trial, TikTok and Snap reached undisclosed settlement agreements with the plaintiff, and both Meta and Google intend to appeal the verdict.