Judge denies Meta's bid to dismiss child-addiction case

A federal judge has denied Meta Platforms' motion to dismiss a major lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general, allowing claims that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children to proceed toward trial. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, represents a significant legal setback for the social media giant as it faces escalating scrutiny over its platforms' impact on young users.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers denied Meta's bid to dismiss claims based on consumer deception, unfair business practices, and violations of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). In a 38-page decision, the judge found material factual disputes over whether Meta's platforms are addictive, whether the company falsely denied designing them that way, and whether it "partially" directed the platforms at children. The judge also granted summary judgment to the states on the issue of COPPA compliance, ruling that Meta did not meet the law's requirements for notice and obtaining parental consent.

The states' lawsuit alleges that Meta intentionally built addictive features into Facebook and Instagram while targeting younger...