Meta faces trial as TikTok settles teen addiction lawsuit

A federal judge has rejected Meta's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by 29 US states alleging that Facebook and Instagram are designed to addict children, clearing the way for a trial. Meanwhile, TikTok reached a settlement with a 15-year-old plaintiff weeks before a similar case was set to go to court, leaving Meta and Snapchat as the remaining defendants in that separate trial scheduled for July 27. Source: Infobae, Excelsiormx

The allegations

The states claim that Meta deliberately engineered its platforms to maximize usage among minors, leading to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and even suicide. The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, also ruled that Meta violated COPPA by failing to provide parental consent and notification requirements. She is overseeing a related multidistrict litigation involving over 2,600 plaintiffs, including school districts and local governments. Source: LaRepublica, Excelsiormx

Disagreement on addiction

Meta argues that "social media addiction" is not a recognized psychiatric disorder, and that there is no evidence the company deceived consumers. The judge noted that if the platforms are proven to induce compulsive use, a jury could find Meta's statements false. The case highlights a growing legal battle over social media's impact on youth mental health, with similar lawsuits against Google, Snap, and TikTok advancing in US courts. Source: LaRepublica, Excelsiormx