Twenty years ago, social media was hailed as a technology that would connect people across divides and make information more accessible. Today, companies like Meta, Google, Snapchat, TikTok, Discord and Roblox are facing thousands of lawsuits in the US over claims that they have instead harmed users, particularly children. The outcomes of these cases — whether settled out of court or decided by juries — could change the way social platforms operate forever.
“It's created a stage that not only legal observers are watching, but regulators and lawmakers are watching closely as well,” said Eric Talley, a lawyer and professor at Columbia Law School. Talley noted that the growing wave of lawsuits is feeding into broader public perception, likely influencing political elections for years and shaping new laws and regulations.
“Social media firms face thousands of lawsuits that could change how platforms operate forever.”
Most cases are going through courts in California, where all the major social platforms are headquartered. This “California effect” means legal and policy changes in the state tend to lead to nationwide changes. “There's no denying anymore that there is an issue with child safety on the platforms,” said Alexis Shore Ingber, a communications law expert and professor at Syracuse University. “We are seeing an inflection point. These cases are significant.”
Already this year, Meta and YouTube suffered an unprecedented loss in a case brought by a young woman who claimed she was addicted as a child to social media, contributing to her mental and emotional health struggles. A jury ordered the companies to pay her a combined $6m (£4.5m) in damages. Both firms said they disagreed with the verdict and intended to appeal.
Meta also lost a bigger case in New Mexico, brought by that state's attorney general, accusing the company of misleading the public that its platforms were safe for children despite known issues of sexual exploitation. Meta said it also plans to appeal.
During the years these cases were brought and resolved, Meta has released changes aimed at making its platforms safer for young users. But broader change to how platforms are designed, function and are accessed is likely to take years more, and more court rulings against them. Between this year and next, Meta and other major social platforms are poised to fight through more trials where juries could consider a host of claims by young users, their parents, and school districts.