Meta faces U.S. lawsuit over child‑addiction claims for Facebook and Instagram

A federal judge in Oakland, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, denied Meta Platforms’ motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general. The states allege that Facebook and Instagram were intentionally designed to addict children, violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and other consumer‑protection laws. The judge found factual disputes over the platforms’ addictiveness and granted summary judgment that Meta failed to meet notice‑and‑parent‑consent requirements. A trial is scheduled for August 18.

Separately, California judges are hearing arguments on AB 2, a bill that could hold social‑media companies financially liable for youth‑harm caused by negligent product design. Meta has proposed technical safeguards such as default‑off autoplay and stricter direct‑message limits, but regulators argue the measures are insufficient. The company continues to roll out features—like disappearing messages and an anonymous‑viewing option for Instagram Stories—that critics say increase risks for minors.

The litigation is part of a broader wave of product‑liability claims against Meta, reflecting growing judicial willingness to treat social‑media platforms as design‑controlled products rather than neutral services.