Twenty years ago, social media was celebrated as a revolutionary force for connectivity and information sharing. Today, however, major platforms including Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), Google (YouTube), Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, and Roblox face thousands of lawsuits in the United States alleging they have caused harm, particularly to children. The outcomes of these cases—whether settled or decided by juries—could fundamentally alter how social platforms operate.
Eric Talley, a law professor at Columbia Law School, noted that these lawsuits are being closely watched by legal observers, regulators, and lawmakers, and are likely to influence political elections and future regulations. Many cases are concentrated in California courts, where the "California effect" often leads to nationwide changes.
Alexis Shore Ingber, a communications law expert at Syracuse University, called this an "inflection point," emphasizing that child safety on platforms is no longer deniable. Already this year, Meta and YouTube suffered an unprecedented loss in a case brought by a young woman who claimed social media addiction contributed to her mental health struggles; a jury awarded her $6 million, though the companies plan to appeal. Meta also lost a separate case in New Mexico, where the attorney general accused it of misleading the public about child safety.
While Meta has introduced safety changes for young users, broader reforms may take years and further court rulings. Here are four pivotal cases to watch:
1. Social Media Adolescent Addiction MDL
More than 1,000 California schools have joined forces against Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok, accusing them of designing addictive platforms that harm children mentally and emotionally. The schools claim they have incurred costs dealing with these effects and seek to have the platforms declared a "public nuisance." A jury trial for certain claims is set for February, though a recent settlement with one school district may delay resolution. If the platforms lose, changes to user engagement displays and user access could follow. YouTube and Snapchat deny the allegations; Meta and TikTok declined to comment.
2. People of the State of California v. Meta
A coalition of 29 states, led by California and Colorado, filed a lawsuit in 2023 against Meta and Instagram, set for trial in August. The states accuse Meta of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from children under 13. Meta has already produced over 2 million documents in the case. If the states prevail, Meta may be required to prevent underage users and delete their data, which is used for ad targeting and AI training. Meta declined to comment.
3. John Doe, a minor v. Roblox et al
A 13-year-old boy sued Roblox and Discord in San Mateo County, claiming he was groomed and solicited by an adult predator through both platforms. The lawsuit argues defective design and false marketing about safety for young users. The companies sought arbitration, but the court refused; the case is on hold pending their appeal. If the appeal fails, a trial could occur later this year, potentially leading to stricter age-gating and limits on stranger interactions. Discord declined to comment; Roblox did not respond.
4. Forrest v. Meta
Not all cases involve children. Australian billionaire Dr. Andrew Forrest sued Meta over scam advertisements hosted on its platform that defrauded users. The case is moving toward trial and could hold platforms liable for deceptive ads.
These cases represent a critical juncture for social media regulation. As Adam J. Schwartz, a lawyer specializing in online document review, put it: "These are the bellwether cases that will set the tone and tenor for shaping the law in the future."