Thousands of lawsuits against major social media companies over alleged addiction among young users have been allowed to proceed after a U.S. federal appeals court rejected efforts by some of the firms to have the cases dismissed.
The lawsuits target Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat and other technology companies, with plaintiffs accusing them of deliberately designing features that encourage children and teenagers to spend excessive amounts of time on their platforms.
The legal battle intensified after the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned down attempts by Meta and TikTok to overturn an earlier ruling that allowed the claims to continue. The decision clears the way for more than 3,000 cases to move forward in federal courts.
The companies had relied partly on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, arguing that the law shields them from legal responsibility for material posted by users. They also maintained that the provision protected them from claims that they failed to adequately warn users about the potentially addictive nature of their platforms.
However, the appeals court clarified that Section 230 can provide a defence against liability but does not prevent companies from being sued in the first place.
The ruling does not determine whether the technology companies are responsible for addiction or mental health problems among young users. Instead, it allows the plaintiffs to continue pursuing their claims through the courts.
The lawsuits were brought by individuals, families, school districts and state governments. They allege that social media platforms have contributed to problems including anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges among children and teenagers.
Meta is also facing a separate case brought by attorneys general from 29 U.S. states. The court rejected the company’s request to delay the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The states accuse Meta of using children’s data in the development of Facebook and Instagram in ways intended to keep young users engaged on the platforms for longer periods.
The latest legal developments come months after a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable over the design of their platforms, which was alleged to have harmed young users. In that case, a young woman who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube while growing up was awarded $6 million.
The ongoing cases could have significant implications for how major social media companies design and operate platforms used by children and teenagers.