A federal court in California ruled on Tuesday that a lawsuit alleging Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, pose a risk to children can move forward. The multi-district litigation involves numerous complaints filed by school districts, personal injury plaintiffs, local government entities, and 34 states. The suit accuses Meta of violating consumer protection laws by designing and deploying platform features that are harmful to young users and concealing their knowledge of this harm from the public. Specifically, the states allege that Meta breached the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent.
While District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed some claims, she allowed allegations of minor harm to proceed. The judge stated that much of the states’ consumer protection claims are valid. The plaintiffs claim that Meta’s design, features, and functions induce young users into extended, addictive, and compulsive use of the platforms. For example, algorithms on Meta platforms recommend content in an emotionally gripping manner to provoke intense reactions. Features like the “infinite scroll” and displaying “like” counts on posts make it difficult for young users to disengage.
A Meta spokesperson defended the company’s policies, stating that they have developed tools to support parents and teens. However, the court pointed out that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides immunity to online platforms from civil liability for third-party content. While claims regarding harm to children can continue, most of Meta’s platform features are protected by Section 230.
Efforts have been made to revise Section 230, with a bipartisan proposal introduced in the House to nullify the law by December 31, 2025. Industry groups have criticized the proposal, warning that it could leave internet platforms vulnerable to litigation. In addition to this lawsuit, Meta is also facing legal action from the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System for allegedly exploiting young users and misrepresenting the impact of its products on children.
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