A federal judge ruled Meta must face claims it designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children and violated privacy laws.
A US federal judge denied Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ:META) motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by 38 state attorneys general. The states accuse Meta of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children while concealing harm from the public.
The ruling allows claims of deception, unfair business practices, and violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to proceed. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Meta failed to obtain parental consent before collecting data from children under 13, as required by COPPA. The judge noted factual disputes, including whether Meta’s platforms are addictive and if the company targeted children.
The lawsuit could result in significant legal and financial consequences for Meta if the claims are upheld. The company has previously denied designing platforms to cause compulsive use among teens.