Axios

Meta, others lose appeal to drop thousands of social media addiction lawsuits

Court Listener

Opposition/Response to Motion  #3356 in IN RE: SOCIAL MEDIA ADOLESCENT ADDICTION/PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION (N.D. Cal., 4:22-md-03047)  CourtListener.com

Meta, other tech companies must face thousands of lawsuits over social media addiction, court rules

The Straits Times

US court rules Meta, other tech firms must face thousands of lawsuits over social media addiction

TechCrunch

Social media platforms still facing thousands of user addiction lawsuits after failed appeals

Docket Alarm

Anadolu Agency

US appeals court dismisses Meta, TikTok appeals in youth social media lawsuits

United States Congress

Section 230: An Overview

New Mexico Department of Justice

Court Orders Meta to Pay $942 Million and Overhaul Protections for Children on Facebook and Instagram in Landmark New Mexico Ruling

META’S SUBMISSION REGARDING STATE AGS’ PENALTY AND DISGORGEMENT CHARTS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS, ECF 444 (3218)

USCA Memorandum  #3352 in IN RE: SOCIAL MEDIA ADOLESCENT ADDICTION/PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION (N.D. Cal., 4:22-md-03047)  CourtListener.com

Al Jazeera

US appeals court says social media addiction lawsuits can proceed

Default.Aspx

Metaculus

Meta Reports 1B Active Users by 2031

Eileen Guo

Zarema Jaramillo

Chase White

Molly Liebergall

Newsweek

William Kovacic

Laila Maidan

Mario Nawfal

"There is very little chance that FB is required to be broken up, as we expect the FTC to lose the case."

"If the FTC is successful, Meta may be forced to divest two of its largest brands."

"If Meta is found guilty of violating antitrust laws, it could be forced to divest its subsidiaries or restructure the business."

"Meta could be forced to sell off IG and WhatsApp if the FTC wins the trial."

The antitrust lawsuit against Facebook "could force it to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp."

"Mark Zuckerberg might have to kiss Instagram and WhatsApp goodbye."

Will Meta Be Broken Up?

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed petitions by Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and Google on Monday seeking to block thousands of lawsuits alleging that their platforms were designed to be addictive to young users.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed petitions by Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and Google on Monday seeking to block thousands of lawsuits alleging that their platforms were designed to be addictive to young users.

The tech giants had argued that Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 — which typically protects online service providers from liability for user-generated content — provided immunity from the plaintiff's claims that they failed to warn the public about their products.

The tech giants had argued that Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 — which typically protects online service providers from liability for user-generated content — provided immunity from the plaintiff's claims that they failed to warn the public about their products.

Writing for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, however, held that Section 230 "merely provides a defense to liability — not immunity from suit," meaning the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review the lower court's rulings on an interlocutory basis.

Writing for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, however, held that Section 230 "merely provides a defense to liability — not immunity from suit," meaning the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review the lower court's rulings on an interlocutory basis.

The decision greenlit consolidated federal litigation, managed by Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, encompassing more than 3,300 cases filed by individuals, school districts, municipalities and state attorneys general against the four companies.

The decision greenlit consolidated federal litigation, managed by Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, encompassing more than 3,300 cases filed by individuals, school districts, municipalities and state attorneys general against the four companies.

In addition, the appeals court denied Meta's request to delay a trial brought by 29 state attorneys general beginning Wednesday, which alleges the company illegally collected children's data, designed platforms to keep young users engaged and misled consumers about safety.

In addition, the appeals court denied Meta's request to delay a trial brought by 29 state attorneys general beginning Wednesday, which alleges the company illegally collected children's data, designed platforms to keep young users engaged and misled consumers about safety.

It follows two landmark trials, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/meta-ordered-to-pay-m-over-youth-harm">one in New Mexico against Meta</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/meta-youtube-lose-first-social-media-addiction-trial">the other against Meta and YouTube in Los Angeles</a>, that imposed nearly $1 billion in combined fines over child safety and social media addiction. Meta claims it faces $1.4 trillion in lawsuits and warned that the trials may materially affect its U.S. performance.

Guardian

guardian

It follows two landmark trials, one in New Mexico against Meta and the other against Meta and YouTube in Los Angeles, that imposed nearly $1 billion in combined fines over child safety and social media addiction. Meta claims it faces $1.4 trillion in lawsuits and warned that the trials may materially affect its U.S. performance.

Axios #

Court Listener #

NBC #

The Straits Times #

TechCrunch #

Docket Alarm #

Anadolu Agency #

United States Congress #

New Mexico Department of Justice #

Al Jazeera #

Meta #

Metaculus #

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 10 dismissed appeals by Meta and TikTok seeking to block thousands of lawsuits alleging their platforms were designed to be addictive to young users, ruling the appeal was premature.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 10 dismissed appeals by Meta and TikTok seeking to block thousands of lawsuits alleging their platforms were designed to be addictive to young users, ruling the appeal was premature.

Writing for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen held that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act "merely provides a defense to liability — not immunity from suit," meaning the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review the lower court's rulings at that stage.

Writing for the three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen held that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act "merely provides a defense to liability — not immunity from suit," meaning the appeals court lacked jurisdiction to review the lower court's rulings at that stage.

The consolidated federal litigation, managed by Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, encompasses more than 3,300 cases filed by individuals, school districts, municipalities and state attorneys general against Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap.

The consolidated federal litigation, managed by Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, encompasses more than 3,300 cases filed by individuals, school districts, municipalities and state attorneys general against Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap.

The appeals court also denied Meta's request to delay a trial brought by 29 state attorneys general beginning Aug. 12, which alleges the company illegally collected children's data, designed platforms to keep young users engaged and misled consumers about safety. Meta disputes the allegations.

The appeals court also denied Meta's request to delay a trial brought by 29 state attorneys general beginning Aug. 12, which alleges the company illegally collected children's data, designed platforms to keep young users engaged and misled consumers about safety. Meta disputes the allegations.

In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent for designing addictive social media platforms and awarded $6 million to a plaintiff who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child. TikTok and Snap settled before that trial began.

Court House News

Court House News #

In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent for designing addictive social media platforms and awarded $6 million to a plaintiff who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child. TikTok and Snap settled before that trial began.

A New Mexico court separately ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund after finding its platforms constituted a public nuisance, bringing the company's total financial exposure in that state to $942 million, combined with a $375 million jury penalty issued earlier.

A New Mexico court separately ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund after finding its platforms constituted a public nuisance, bringing the company's total financial exposure in that state to $942 million, combined with a $375 million jury penalty issued earlier.

Section 230 is a defense to liability, not a get-out-of-court-free card, and courts have no business letting tech giants skip straight to appeal every time a judge lets a case proceed. Thousands of families alleging that Meta and TikTok deliberately addicted kids deserve their day in court, not procedural stalling tactics dressed up as jurisdictional arguments. Forcing these companies to actually litigate is exactly how the legal system is supposed to work.

Section 230 is a defense to liability, not a get-out-of-court-free card, and courts have no business letting tech giants skip straight to appeal every time a judge lets a case proceed. Thousands of families alleging that Meta and TikTok deliberately addicted kids deserve their day in court, not procedural stalling tactics dressed up as jurisdictional arguments. Forcing these companies to actually litigate is exactly how the legal system is supposed to work.

The Ninth Circuit spent two decades calling Section 230 protection immunity from suit, not just a liability shield, and gutting that distinction now exposes every online platform to costly, protracted litigation Congress explicitly wanted to prevent. Stripping Meta of the right to appeal before trial destroys the immunity entirely, since an immunity from suit that survives only after years of litigation is no immunity at all. Letting these failure-to-warn claims proceed unchecked chills free speech and smothers internet innovation.

The Ninth Circuit spent two decades calling Section 230 protection immunity from suit, not just a liability shield, and gutting that distinction now exposes every online platform to costly, protracted litigation Congress explicitly wanted to prevent. Stripping Meta of the right to appeal before trial destroys the immunity entirely, since an immunity from suit that survives only after years of litigation is no immunity at all. Letting these failure-to-warn claims proceed unchecked chills free speech and smothers internet innovation.

United States of America

Media

Lawsuits

Section 230 is a defense to liability, not a get-out-of-court-free card. The courts have no business enabling tech giants to skip straight to appeal whenever a judge allows a case to proceed, and the families of those allegedly affected by their products deserve their day in court. If these social media companies want to avoid any penalties, then they will have to prove their innocence in court, like everyone else.

Section 230 is a defense to liability, not a get-out-of-court-free card. The courts have no business enabling tech giants to skip straight to appeal whenever a judge allows a case to proceed, and the families of those allegedly affected by their products deserve their day in court. If these social media companies want to avoid any penalties, then they will have to prove their innocence in court, like everyone else.

The Ninth Circuit has spent decades calling Section 230 protection immunity from suit, not just a liability shield, and gutting that distinction now exposes every online platform to costly, protracted litigation Congress explicitly wanted to prevent. Allowing these bogus failure-to-warn claims to proceed unchecked does nothing but chill free speech online and smother future internet innovation.

The Ninth Circuit has spent decades calling Section 230 protection immunity from suit, not just a liability shield, and gutting that distinction now exposes every online platform to costly, protracted litigation Congress explicitly wanted to prevent. Allowing these bogus failure-to-warn claims to proceed unchecked does nothing but chill free speech online and smother future internet innovation.

There is a 20% chance that Meta will report 1 billion active users by December 31, 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 20% chance that Meta will report 1 billion active users by December 31, 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Court Rejects Social Media Bids to Block Youth Addiction Suits

Meta,Court othersRejects loseSocial appealMedia Bids to dropBlock thousandsYouth ofAddiction social media addiction lawsuitsSuits

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

White

Newsweek

Maidan

Liebergall

Nawfal

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Court Rejects Social Media Bids to Block Youth Addiction Suits

Meta,Court othersRejects loseSocial appealMedia Bids to dropBlock thousandsYouth ofAddiction social media addiction lawsuitsSuits

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

White

Newsweek

Maidan

Liebergall

Nawfal

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters