Meta Loses Bid to Dismiss US Youth Addiction Lawsuit

A U.S. federal judge in the Northern District of California rejected Meta's motion to dismiss a multistate lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 29 states. The states allege that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to encourage compulsive use among teenagers and that Meta concealed the associated mental‑health risks, violating consumer‑protection laws and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The judge found material factual disputes on whether the platforms are addictive and on Meta’s representations, and granted a summary‑judgment finding that Meta failed to meet COPPA notice and parental‑consent requirements. The case is scheduled for trial on August 18, with the same judge overseeing related lawsuits against other major social‑media firms.

Meta maintains that social‑media addiction is not a medically recognized disorder and contends that its platforms are not inherently addictive. The company has previously faced fines and settlements in similar actions, including a $6 million judgment in California and a $375 million penalty in New Mexico.