A federal judge has rejected Meta Platforms' attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by 29 US state attorneys general, which accuses the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and knowingly concealing the resulting harm from the public. The decision, issued late Monday by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, denies Meta's motion to dismiss claims based on deception, unfair practices, and violations of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Judge Rules Meta Violated COPPA
In her ruling, Judge Gonzalez Rogers also found that Meta did not comply with COPPA's notice and parental consent requirements, granting summary judgment to the states on that specific issue. Meta responded in a statement: “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.”
Multidistrict Litigation Includes Over 2,600 Cases
Gonzalez Rogers also oversees related multidistrict litigation involving more than 2,600 individuals, school districts, and local governments. These cases examine whether social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok are designed to addict children. The states allege that research has shown children's use of Meta's platforms can lead to depression, anxiety, insomnia, interference with education and daily life, and self-harm, including suicide.
Meta's Arguments Rejected
Meta countered that the attorneys general lacked evidence that it misled consumers about the alleged addictiveness of its platforms, including during congressional testimony by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. The company argued that “social media addiction” is not an established psychiatric condition, so statements that its platforms are not addictive could not be false. Meta also claimed it did not violate COPPA because Facebook and Instagram are directed at a general audience, not specifically children under 13.
Factual Disputes Found Over Addictiveness
In a 38-page decision, Gonzalez Rogers found material factual disputes over whether Meta's platforms are addictive, whether Meta falsely denied designing them that way, and whether it “partially” directed the platforms at children. “The AGs present a reasonable interpretation of [Meta's] statements that Facebook and Instagram are not designed in ways that cause teens to compulsively use the platforms to their detriment,” she wrote. “To the extent plaintiffs’ evidence shows that the platforms are in fact designed to do just that, a jury could reasonably find the statements were untrue to a reasonable person.”
Trial Scheduled for August
A trial over claims brought by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey against Meta is scheduled for August 18, according to court records.
