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A federal judge has ruled that Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not personally liable in 25 lawsuits accusing the company of addicting children to social media. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, dismissed allegations on Thursday that Zuckerberg specifically directed Meta’s efforts to hide the serious mental health risks associated with Facebook and Instagram from young users.
The plaintiffs argued that Zuckerberg, Meta’s billionaire co-founder, was the “guiding spirit” behind alleged concealment efforts, claiming he ignored internal warnings and downplayed risks in public statements. However, the judge noted there was insufficient evidence detailing Zuckerberg’s specific actions in these efforts, stating that “control of corporate activity alone is insufficient” to establish personal liability. This ruling does not impact related claims against Meta itself.
The lawsuits draw on state laws from 13 states, including Arizona, Colorado, and New York. Previn Warren, a partner at Motley Rice representing the plaintiffs, responded on Friday, stating that his clients would continue gathering evidence “to uncover the truth about how Big Tech has knowingly prioritized profits over the safety of our children.”
These 25 cases are part of a larger wave of lawsuits filed 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 state attorneys general have filed similar cases against Meta, citing links between its platforms and issues like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and disruptions in education and daily life.
