US Appeals Court Allows Lawsuits Against Meta, Google, TikTok, Snapchat Over Addictive Design
Summary
A US appeals court has allowed more than 3,000 lawsuits against Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat to move forward over claims that their platforms were designed to be addictive for young users. The cases allege the companies harmed children’s mental health and misled consumers about safety.
Key Points
- The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Meta and TikTok’s attempts to block thousands of lawsuits over allegedly addictive platform design.
- The lawsuits claim social media companies intentionally targeted children and adolescents, contributing to depression, anxiety and body image problems.
- The court also refused Meta’s bid to delay a separate lawsuit brought by attorneys general from 29 US states.
- A New Mexico judge recently ordered Meta to pay $567 million over a public nuisance case and youth safety measures.
