OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Meta and TikTok are facing ongoing legal proceedings as over 3,000 consolidated federal cases move forward in the U.S. federal court system. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an early appeal submitted by Meta Platforms and TikTok. This decision leaves the cases before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, with plaintiffs claiming that certain platform features foster compulsive usage and have contributed to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
Meta and TikTok had requested an expedited appellate review of rulings related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The appeals court clarified that Section 230 serves as a defense against liability but does not provide immunity from legal action. Consequently, the court determined that the companies could not pursue the appeal at this stage. The ruling did not decide whether Section 230 will ultimately prevent any claims but permitted the ongoing federal litigation to proceed under the existing orders of the trial court.
The case involves claims from families, individuals, school districts, cities, and state authorities. Plaintiffs have also filed suits against Alphabet’s Google, which owns YouTube, and Snap, the operator of Snapchat. The complaints allege that these social media firms developed features that encouraged repeated engagement among young users, linking them to depression, anxiety, body image issues, and other mental health concerns. The defendants have denied the allegations. An additional approximately 3,300 cases are still consolidated in California state court.
States pursue separate legal action against Meta
Meta is also defending itself against a distinct federal lawsuit initiated by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection in this case is scheduled for Aug. 12 in Oakland, with the trial set to begin on Aug. 17. The states accuse Meta of unlawfully collecting and using children’s personal data. They further claim that Facebook and Instagram incorporated features that promoted compulsive usage among minors. The lawsuit also alleges that Meta misled consumers regarding safety protections on its platforms. Meta has denied any wrongdoing.
Claims have been made under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and various state consumer protection laws. States including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have additional state law claims included in the case. A federal judge previously refused to dismiss the case prior to trial, citing the need for further proceedings to resolve disputes. Several states have submitted calculations for potential financial penalties should they prevail, but Meta has challenged both the figures and the legal basis for the requested amounts.
Notable rulings widen the scope of youth safety litigation
The broader legal actions against tech giants have already resulted in significant rulings. 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 for Facebook and Instagram over the next five years. Earlier, in March, a New Mexico jury imposed a $375 million civil penalty. Combined, these decisions mean Meta faces a total exposure of $942 million in the state case.
In another case, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in designing Instagram and YouTube, respectively. The jury awarded $6 million to the plaintiff, who alleged that her childhood use of these platforms led to addiction and mental health issues. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before trial under undisclosed terms. Both Meta and Google have announced plans to appeal the verdict.