U.S. Judge Clears Mark Zuckerberg of Personal Liability in Social Media Addiction Cases
In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, determined that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not personally liable in 25 lawsuits that accuse Meta Platforms of contributing to social media addiction among children. These cases argue that Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, negatively impact young users’ mental health.
Lack of Evidence Against Zuckerberg
The lawsuits allege that Zuckerberg, Meta’s co-founder, was central in concealing the mental health risks associated with these platforms from younger users. Plaintiffs claim that he ignored internal warnings and publicly downplayed the potential dangers, describing him as the “guiding spirit” behind Meta’s actions. However, Judge Rogers stated there was insufficient evidence of specific wrongdoing by Zuckerberg, emphasizing that “corporate control alone is insufficient” to hold him personally liable. This ruling only applies to Zuckerberg himself and does not dismiss related claims against Meta as a company.
Ongoing Legal Battle Across Multiple U.S. States
The lawsuits, filed under the laws of 13 states—including Arizona, Colorado, and New York—are part of a broader legal action involving children, families, and school districts against Meta. Previn Warren, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, affirmed their commitment to gathering more evidence to demonstrate how “Big Tech has knowingly prioritized profits over children’s safety.”
Nationwide Legal Challenges Facing Social Media Platforms
These 25 lawsuits are part of hundreds filed against major social media platforms, including Google, TikTok, and Snapchat, accusing them of causing addiction and mental health issues among adolescents. These cases are supported by dozens of U.S. state attorneys general, who link the platforms to increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and disruption in young people’s daily lives.
Background on the Case
The case, titled In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (Case No. 22-md-03047), continues in the Northern District of California as the plaintiffs pursue Meta and other tech companies for damages related to youth mental health and social media usage.
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