On Monday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, dismissed some claims in twelve lawsuits against Mark Zuckerberg, alleging he concealed the harmful effects of Facebook and Instagram on children.
These lawsuits are part of a broader litigation involving numerous children who are suing Meta and other social media companies, claiming addiction to their platforms.
In her ruling, Judge Rogers rejected the argument that Zuckerberg, as Meta’s founder and a prominent figure, had a personal duty to disclose the risks of the platforms to each plaintiff.
She stated that holding individuals like Zuckerberg accountable for such disclosures would set a precedent requiring public figures to disclose information to anyone recognizable, which she deemed impractical.
Although certain claims against Zuckerberg were dismissed, Meta remains a defendant in the ongoing litigation.
The company has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to its platforms’ impact on children.
This legal battle extends beyond Zuckerberg and Meta, involving other tech giants like Alphabet (owner of Google and YouTube), ByteDance (operator of TikTok), and Snap (which runs Snapchat).
Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by individual children alleging physical, mental, and emotional harm resulting from their social media usage, including conditions like anxiety, depression, and, tragically, suicide.
The litigation aims not only for damages but also to compel the defendants to cease practices deemed harmful.
Additionally, several states and school districts have brought forth their own lawsuits against Meta, indicating a widespread concern over the impact of social media on young users.
These cases underscore the growing scrutiny and legal challenges facing major tech companies regarding their responsibilities towards the well-being of their users, particularly children.
