OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – A federal appeals court in the United States has authorized over 3,000 lawsuits alleging social media addiction to proceed. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed appeals by Meta Platforms and TikTok, which challenged prior rulings that allowed the litigation to move forward. The court determined their appeals were premature, stating they sought review too early. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers manages the consolidated federal cases in Oakland.
The legal conflict partly hinges on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Meta and TikTok contended that this law protected them from claims related to warnings about platforms they allegedly made addictive. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 offers a defense against liability, not complete immunity from lawsuits. This distinction prevented an immediate appeal at this stage. The decision upheld earlier federal court orders, without ruling on whether the companies are ultimately liable.
Plaintiffs consist of individuals, families, school districts, municipalities, and states. They accuse Meta, Google (a subsidiary of Alphabet), ByteDance’s TikTok, and Snap of designing platforms that foster compulsive usage among youth. The lawsuits connect these alleged design choices to issues such as depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and other damages. The companies deny these allegations. Plaintiffs are seeking damages, penalties, and restitution in the federal cases, while approximately 3,300 more similar cases are consolidated in California state court.
Meta faces a separate trial in Oakland moving forward
The appeals court also denied Meta’s request to delay a different case initiated by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection is set to begin on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with opening statements scheduled for Aug. 18. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and exploiting children’s data, as well as using features that promote compulsive engagement and misleading consumers about platform safety. Meta has denied these accusations in the multistate lawsuit.
This trial involves claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection laws. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey also have state law claims scheduled for trial. A federal judge previously rejected Meta’s attempt to dismiss the case before trial, citing factual disputes needing resolution. Four states have submitted calculations for substantial penalties if they succeed, but Meta has challenged both the figures and their legal foundation.
Historical rulings contribute to social media legal battles
These federal cases follow several significant court decisions related to youth safety and social media platform design. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to allocate $567 million for a youth mental health fund and safety initiatives over five years, following a $375 million civil penalty from a March jury. Collectively, these rulings expose Meta to $942 million in potential liabilities in that case. Additionally, a Los Angeles jury ruled against Meta and Google in March, finding both negligent regarding the design of Instagram and YouTube. They awarded $6 million to a young woman who claimed addiction and mental health harm from childhood usage. TikTok and Snap settled with her before trial under undisclosed terms, while Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict in California.