US judge rejects Meta's bid to dismiss child addiction lawsuit

OAKLAND, Calif. — A federal judge in Oakland, California, on Monday rejected Meta's motion to dismiss a multistate lawsuit accusing the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and concealing the harm from the public. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled late Monday that claims of deception, unfair business practices and violations of laws protecting children's online privacy can proceed in court. The decision leaves Meta facing continued litigation over allegations that its platforms were built to foster compulsive use among minors. The lawsuit, brought by a coalition of U.S. states, argues that Meta engineered features intended to keep young users engaged while hiding the consequences from parents and regulators. Meta had sought to have the case thrown out before trial. The ruling allows the federal case against Meta to move forward. Investigations and regulatory scrutiny of the company's platforms and their effects on children continue across the United States.