OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an initial appeal from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10, allowing ongoing litigation to proceed in federal court. This decision keeps more than 3,000 consolidated cases before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The plaintiffs claim that certain features of these platforms fostered compulsive usage and contributed to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
Meta and TikTok had requested an immediate review of the lower court rulings related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 serves as a defense against liability, rather than granting immunity from lawsuits. Consequently, the court concluded that the companies could not pursue the appeal at this stage. The ruling does not resolve whether Section 230 will ultimately bar the claims but permits the ongoing federal proceedings to continue based on the current court orders.
The litigation encompasses claims filed by families, individuals, school districts, municipalities, and state governments. In addition, plaintiffs have sued Alphabet’s Google, owner of YouTube, and Snap, the operator of Snapchat. They contend that social media platforms intentionally designed features to promote repeated engagement by young users, with allegations linking these practices to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The companies have denied the allegations. About 3,300 related cases are also consolidated in California state court.
States file separate lawsuit against Meta
Meta is also the target of a distinct federal lawsuit initiated by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection for this case is set for Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial scheduled to commence on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and utilizing minors’ personal data. They further allege that Facebook and Instagram incorporated features encouraging addictive behaviors among underage users. The suit claims Meta misled consumers regarding safety measures on its platforms. Meta denies any misconduct.
The plaintiffs have brought claims under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection statutes. States like California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey also include state law claims within this case. A federal judge previously declined to dismiss the lawsuit before trial, citing unresolved disputes requiring further proceedings. Several states have submitted calculations for potential financial penalties should they succeed, though Meta disputes those figures and the legal grounds for the requested sums.
Judgments in other cases deepen youth safety concerns
Multiple significant rulings have already impacted the broader social media legal landscape. On Aug. 6, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million toward a youth mental health fund and related initiatives. Additionally, Facebook and Instagram faced safety mandates for a five-year span. Earlier in March, a New Mexico jury levied a $375 million civil penalty. These rulings collectively expose Meta to a total financial liability of $942 million in the state case.
In another instance, a Los Angeles jury found against Meta and Google in a separate social media addiction lawsuit. The jurors determined that the companies were negligent for the design of Instagram and YouTube, awarding $6 million to the plaintiff, who alleged that childhood exposure to these platforms contributed to addiction and mental health harm. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial under undisclosed terms. Both Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal this verdict.