Home / Crime and Justice / MA Court Rules Meta Can Be Sued for Addictive Design
MA Court Rules Meta Can Be Sued for Addictive Design
10 Apr
Summary
- Massachusetts high court ruled Meta can be sued over addictive features.
- Lawsuit targets Meta's design choices, not user content.
- 34 other states are pursuing similar cases against Meta.
Massachusetts' highest court has ruled that Meta Platforms must defend against a lawsuit alleging it intentionally designed addictive features for young users on its social media platforms. The state's Supreme Judicial Court determined that the lawsuit targets Meta's own business conduct, such as capitalizing on children's developmental vulnerabilities or making misleading statements about platform safety. This ruling is distinct from claims concerning user-generated content, which is generally protected under federal law.
The decision represents a key development, as it is the first time a state high court has addressed whether federal protections for internet companies apply to such claims. Attorney General Andrea Campbell hailed the ruling as a major step toward holding companies accountable for practices contributing to the youth mental health crisis. This case occurs amidst broader legal scrutiny, with 34 other states concurrently pursuing similar litigation against Meta in federal court.
Earlier legal actions have seen juries find Meta and Google negligent for harmful social media designs and impose significant penalties on Meta for misleading users and enabling child exploitation. The Massachusetts lawsuit specifically points to features like push notifications and endless scrolling as intentionally designed to exploit teens' psychological vulnerabilities and fear of missing out. Meta has denied these allegations, asserting its commitment to teen safety.
