Social Media Addiction: Here's What US Court Said on Zuckerberg's Role in Children's Addiction

Mark Zuckerberg not liable: A federal judge has ruled that Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not personally liable in 25 lawsuits alleging that his company has fostered social media addiction in children. 

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, dismissed accusations on Thursday that Zuckerberg directed Meta’s efforts to hide the serious mental health risks of using Facebook and Instagram from young users.

Guiding Spirit 

The plaintiffs had described Meta’s billionaire co-founder as the "guiding spirit" behind alleged efforts to obscure these risks, alleging he ignored internal warnings and downplayed the potential harm publicly. However, the judge found insufficient details about Zuckerberg’s specific actions and noted that merely controlling corporate activities does not establish liability. This decision does not impact related claims against Meta as a company.

The plaintiffs filed their claims under the laws of 13 US states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Profits Over Safety of Children

Previn Warren, a partner at Motley Rice representing the plaintiffs, said on Friday that his clients will continue gathering evidence "to uncover the truth about how Big Tech has knowingly prioritised profits over the safety of our children."

These 25 lawsuits are part of a broader wave of cases brought by children, families, and school districts seeking damages from Meta, Alphabet’s Google , ByteDance’s TikTok, and Snap’s Snapchat over alleged social media addiction. 

Additionally, several dozen US state attorneys general have filed similar cases against Meta, citing links between its platforms and issues such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and interference with education and daily life.

(With Reuters inputs)