Meta loses in court: Lawsuit over children's addiction to Facebook and Instagram moves forward

A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit accusing Meta Platforms of designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children to proceed, rejecting the company's bid to dismiss the case. The lawsuit, brought forth by attorneys general from 29 U.S. states, alleges that Meta knowingly created features that foster addiction in young users and concealed the negative effects of its platforms.

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We disagree with these allegations wholeheartedly and are confident the evidence will show our long-standing commitment to supporting young people.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, determined that the case can move forward concerning allegations of deceptive and unfair commercial practices, as well as potential violations of federal laws protecting children's online privacy. The judge cited potential breaches of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), stating that Meta may not have adequately informed parents or obtained their consent in certain situations.

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The court found that there are sufficient elements for the litigation to continue and be analyzed on its merits.

Meta has vehemently denied the accusations, asserting its commitment to supporting young people and questioning the psychiatric validity of "social media addiction." The company argues that its platforms are intended for a general audience, not exclusively children under 13. However, the judge found sufficient grounds for the litigation to continue, noting that a jury could conclude Meta's public statements were false if evidence shows the platforms were intentionally designed to encourage compulsive use among adolescents. The first trial is scheduled for August 18, focusing on claims from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.

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A jury could conclude that the company's statements were untrue if the evidence demonstrates that the platforms were designed to encourage compulsive use by adolescents.