Meta Platforms will face a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts authorities over claims that its Instagram platform was deliberately designed in ways that could harm young users.
The decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court marks a significant legal development, as it is the first time a state’s highest court has examined whether federal protections for tech companies extend to claims of platform design and user addiction.
In a unanimous ruling, Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt stated that the case brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell focuses on the company’s conduct rather than user-generated content.
“Instead, the claims allege harm stemming from Meta’s own conduct either by designing a social media platform that capitalizes on the developmental vulnerabilities of children or by affirmatively misleading consumers about the safety of the Instagram platform,” Wendlandt wrote.
The court held that such claims are not automatically shielded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act 1996, which generally protects internet companies from liability over content posted by users.
Campbell welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “major step” toward accountability.
“Major step in holding these companies accountable for practices that have fueled the youth mental health crisis and put profits over kids.”
Meta, which also owns Facebook, has rejected the allegations and maintains that it has implemented measures to protect younger users on its platforms.
The case forms part of a broader wave of legal action across the United States, with multiple states, school districts and individuals accusing social media firms of designing addictive platforms targeted at children.
In a related development, a jury in Los Angeles recently found Meta and Google negligent over claims their platforms harmed young users, awarding $6 million to a plaintiff who said she developed social media addiction as a child.
In another case, a separate jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in penalties in a lawsuit brought by authorities in New Mexico over allegations the company misled users about platform safety and failed to prevent exploitation.
More than 30 states are currently pursuing similar legal actions against Meta in federal courts, while additional lawsuits continue to emerge at the state level.
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