Meta is under legal scrutiny from the state of Florida and 33 U.S. attorneys general. The lawsuits allege that the company intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram features to be addictive for teenagers. A federal court in California recently denied Meta’s motion to dismiss the cases, allowing the lawsuits to proceed.
Lawsuits Target Social Media’s Impact on Teens
The two lawsuits, filed last year, accuse Meta of causing both mental and physical harm to minors through its platforms. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland ruled against Meta’s request to dismiss the cases. This ruling allows prosecutors to collect further evidence in preparation for trial.
Despite Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which offers online platforms immunity from liability for third-party content, the judge concluded that the plaintiffs had provided sufficient grounds to proceed.
Alleged Violations and Meta’s Defense
The lawsuits claim Meta violated federal and state regulations, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the California False Advertising Act (FAL), and the California Unfair Competition Law (UCL). Prosecutors seek civil penalties and injunctions to curb the company’s allegedly harmful practices, notes NIX Solutions.
“This case will set an important precedent for holding social media companies accountable. It’s time they treat our children better,” stated Attorney General Rob Bonta, who leads the coalition of attorneys general. “Our children deserve to have their childhoods back.”
In response, a Meta spokesperson expressed disagreement with the allegations, emphasizing that the company has developed tools to help teenagers manage their screen time and maintain safety. Among these efforts is the introduction of Instagram’s “Teen Accounts.”
We’ll keep you updated as the case progresses.