Meta loses bid to dismiss states' claims Facebook, Instagram addict children
A federal judge ruled that Meta must face claims by dozens of U.S. states that its Facebook and Instagram platforms are intentionally addictive to children. The court rejected Meta's attempt to dismiss the multi-state lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed.
Background
Dozens of US states are suing Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), arguing the company deliberately designed its platforms with addictive features — infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations, notification loops — to hook children, causing depression, anxiety, and sleep disruption. Meta tried to get the case dismissed by arguing that Section 230, a US law shielding platforms from liability for third-party content, protected it. A federal judge rejected that argument, ruling that Section 230 does not cover Meta's own product-design decisions. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 under state consumer-protection law, can now proceed. This is a major blow to Meta and signals that tech companies may face new legal exposure for how they build features for minors. Similar cases have been filed against TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.