Mark Zuckerberg Cleared of Personal Liability in 25 Lawsuits Over Social Media Addiction Claims

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A federal judge ruled that the Facebook, Instagram, and Meta conglomerate owner was not personally responsible for making children addicted to social media.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, dismissed the accusations against Zuckerberg. 

According to her ruling, Zuckerberg did not lead Meta’s efforts to conceal the serious mental health risks posed by Facebook and Instagram for children.

The plaintiffs claimed that the billionaire Meta co-founder was the «guiding spirit» behind the alleged cover-up efforts. 

They argued that Zuckerberg ignored repeated internal warnings about the risks and publicly downplayed them.

«The control of corporate activity alone is insufficient» to establish liability, said the judge. She clarified that her decision only affected the claims against Zuckerberg personally, not those directed at Meta as a company.

The legal term in question is «corporate-office liability,» which refers to establishing responsibility for corporate executives. In this case, the judge concluded that it did not apply to Zuckerberg.

The lawsuit was filed under the laws of 13 U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

What do the accusers say?

Although there are 25 separate lawsuits, they represent the cases of hundreds of children, their families, and school districts.

 The plaintiffs are seeking damages from Meta, Google’s parent company Alphabet (GOOGL.O), TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and Snapchat’s parent company Snap (SNAP.N) over social media addiction.

And it doesn’t end there. The plaintiffs argue that they are trying to «uncover the truth about how big tech companies have deliberately prioritized profits over the safety of our children,» as reported by Previn Warren, a partner at the law firm Motley Rice, which represents the plaintiffs.

According to Warren, the companies should have — and could have — implemented safeguards years ago, before hundreds of families like theirs had to endure the consequences of social media addiction.

He added that their clients will continue gathering evidence. And they are not alone. 

Dozens of state attorneys general are filing similar cases against Meta, linking its platforms to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and interference with education and daily life.

Due to time zone differences, the first outlets to cover the news were from Asia. 

Reports from India indicate that these cases are part of a broader legal effort involving over 1,000 lawsuits filed in California courts by families and public-school districts. 

Meta, Alphabet’s Google, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, are all named in this wave of litigation, which targets the alleged harm caused to adolescents by their platforms.

For those wishing to investigate the case further, it is archived under the title: «In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation,» U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-md-03047.

Maria Herrera Mellado

María Herrera Mellado es abogada que ejerce en EE.UU. reconocida por su análisis  político y legal en los medios de comunicación y su participaciôn en la redacción de políticas públicas  y leyes en materia de seguridad nacional e inmigración.

Su formación académica y experiencias profesionales la convierten en una voz respetada en el debate público y en el análisis de temas de actualidad sobre todo en los desafíos políticos y legales contemporáneos.

María Herrera Mellado is a U.S.-based attorney also licensed in Spain. She holds a PhD in Legal Sciences and is known as a media legal and policy analyst.

Dr. Herrera is recognized for her extensive experience in analyzing and consulting on public policy design, legislative proposals, and international relations management.

Her recognition stems from her contributions to the analysis and legal representation of various organizations, companies, and individuals whose human rights or privacy have been violated, or who have benefited from the inclusion of effective policies, primarily in the areas of transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption.

Her academic background and professional experience make her a respected voice in public debate and in the analysis of current issues, particularly in contemporary political and legal challenges.