US appeals court allows lawsuits against Meta, Google, TikTok

A federal appeals court has allowed thousands of lawsuits against Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat to move forward, ruling that claims the platforms designed addictive products harming children can be heard in court.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the companies’ bid to dismiss the cases early, saying their appeal came too soon. The tech giants had argued that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shielded them from lawsuits over user-generated content. But the court said Section 230 protects them from liability, not from being sued at all. The judges also refused Meta’s request to delay a trial starting Wednesday, where 29 state attorneys general accuse the company of illegally collecting children’s data and engineering platforms to keep young users hooked.

The ruling comes as governments worldwide crack down on social media’s impact on minors. France plans to ban under-15s from social media and ban phones in high schools next month. Australia has already banned under-16s from social platforms, with fines up to $35 million for violations. Britain is set to follow next year. The pressure reflects growing public concern over online harms, with leaders like France’s Macron linking social media to youth violence. In the US, lawsuits filed by states, schools and families allege the companies knew their products fueled depression and anxiety among young users. A jury in Los Angeles has already found Meta and Google negligent in one case, awarding $6 million to a woman who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube.

The cases, now centralized before US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California, seek damages, penalties and restitution. Plaintiffs argue the companies prioritized profits over children’s well-being by designing addictive features. The legal battles highlight a global shift in holding tech giants accountable for their platforms’ effects on young users. With more countries imposing restrictions and US courts allowing the lawsuits, the outcome could reshape how social media companies operate—and how much they’re held responsible for the harm their products cause.