Meta must face youth addiction lawsuit by Massachusetts, court rules

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Massachusetts’ attorney general has won the right to sue Meta Platforms over allegations that the company designed Instagram to be addictive to children, according to a ruling by the state’s highest court on Friday.

The ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is significant as it marks the first time a state high court has addressed whether internet companies can be held responsible for knowingly addicting young users, despite the protections provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.

Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt, writing for the court, clarified that the lawsuit filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is not about holding Meta liable for user-generated content, but rather focuses on the company’s own conduct.

Meta is facing thousands of lawsuits by individuals, municipalities, states and school districts nationwide seeking to hold Meta accountable. (AFP via Getty Images)

According to Wendlandt, the claims in the lawsuit suggest harm caused by Meta’s own actions in designing a social media platform that exploits children’s vulnerabilities or by misleading consumers about the safety of Instagram.

Attorney General Campbell, a Democrat, praised the court’s decision, stating that it is a significant step towards holding companies accountable for prioritizing profits over the well-being of young people.

Representatives for Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Meta has refuted the allegations and maintains that it implements extensive measures to ensure the safety of teens and young users on its platforms.

This lawsuit is part of a larger trend where individuals, municipalities, states, and school districts across the country are taking legal action against Meta and other social media companies for allegedly designing platforms to be addictive to young users.

The ruling comes after a recent trial where Meta and Google were found negligent for designing harmful social media platforms, with a Los Angeles jury awarding $6 million to a woman who claimed she became addicted to social media as a child.