OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Over 3,000 consolidated federal cases alleging that major social media platforms have contributed to harmful and addictive behaviors among young users remain active in court. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an initial appeal by Meta Platforms and TikTok. This decision allows the ongoing proceedings to proceed before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The plaintiffs claim that certain platform design elements foster compulsive usage and have led to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
Both Meta and TikTok had sought to have the lower court’s rulings on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act overturned through immediate appellate review. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 offers a defense against liability but does not provide blanket immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court ruled that the companies could not pursue the appeal at this juncture. This ruling does not address whether Section 230 will ultimately prevent any of the claims from proceeding. Instead, it permits the federal case to move forward under the current trial court orders.
The legal action includes claims filed by families, individuals, school districts, cities, and state governments. In addition, plaintiffs have sued Alphabet’s Google, which owns YouTube, and Snap, the operator of Snapchat. They argue that these social media giants incorporated features designed to boost repeated engagement by young users. The lawsuits reference alleged links between platform use and issues such as depression, anxiety, body image concerns, and other mental health problems. The companies have denied these allegations. There are also approximately 3,300 related cases still consolidated in California state court.
States initiate separate legal action against Meta
Meta is also involved in a distinct federal lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection for this case is scheduled to begin on Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial set to start on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal data. They further allege that Facebook and Instagram have features that promote compulsive use among minors. The case also claims that Meta misled consumers regarding safety protections on its platforms. Meta has denied these accusations.
The plaintiffs have brought claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act along with various state consumer protection laws. States including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have also filed state law claims within 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 monetary penalties if they succeed. Meta has challenged these figures and disputed the legal rationale behind the proposed amounts.
Notable decisions broaden youth safety litigation
The wider social media legal landscape has already seen significant rulings against technology firms. On Aug. 6, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $567 million toward a youth mental health fund and related initiatives. The order also mandated safety measures on Facebook and Instagram for a duration of five years. Earlier, in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty. These rulings combined result in a total potential financial exposure of $942 million for Meta in the state case.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury found against Meta and Google in March, awarding $6 million to a plaintiff in a separate social media addiction lawsuit. Jurors determined that the platforms’ design of Instagram and YouTube was negligent and linked to childhood addiction and mental health issues. Before trial, TikTok and Snap reached confidential settlement agreements with the plaintiff. Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal that verdict.