A US federal appeals court has cleared the way for thousands of lawsuits accusing major social media platforms of harming young users through addictive design features. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday dismissed challenges by Meta and TikTok, allowing more than 3,000 federal cases to proceed.
The ruling rejects the companies’ argument that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields them from such litigation. The court held that the law provides a defense against liability but does not grant immunity from being sued. The lawsuits, brought by individuals, school districts, states and local authorities, target Meta, Google, TikTok, Snap and other platforms. They allege that features designed to maximize engagement have fueled addiction, depression, anxiety and other mental Health harms among children and teenagers.
The same court also denied Meta’s request to delay a separate case filed by 29 state attorneys general. Jury selection in that case is scheduled to begin Wednesday. The states accuse Meta of improperly collecting children’s data, deploying engagement-driven features and misleading consumers about platform safety. Meta denies the allegations.
The decision follows a March jury verdict in Los Angeles that found Meta and Google negligent in the first social media addiction case to reach trial. A 20-year-old woman was awarded $6 million after testifying she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child. Both companies have denied wrongdoing and are challenging the verdict.
The legal pressure coincides with a global wave of regulatory action aimed at protecting minors online. In December, Australia became the first country to require major platforms to prevent users under 16 from holding accounts. Indonesia and Malaysia have since introduced similar age restrictions, while Britain has announced a ban for children under 16 set to take effect next year. France has restricted access for children under 15, with the measure due to take effect in September pending constitutional review.
As courts and legislatures worldwide scrutinize the impact of social media on youth, the Ninth Circuit’s ruling signals that platforms cannot rely on Section 230 to avoid accountability at the outset of litigation. The coming months will test whether the companies can successfully defend their design choices in court, and whether regulatory frameworks can effectively curb features deemed harmful to young users.
