Meta Platforms, Google, ByteDance, and Snap Inc. Accused of Creating a Public Nuisance

Publish Date : 11/18/2024

A California federal judge ruled Meta Platforms, Google, ByteDance, and Snap Inc. must face most public nuisance claims in multidistrict litigation brought by school districts and local governments. These plaintiffs allege the companies designed their social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat—to foster compulsive use by minors, leading to harmful effects on youth mental health and increased financial burdens on schools to address these issues.

The judge rejected the companies’ arguments public nuisance claims require a direct link to land use or product liability laws. She found the claims plausible, stating public nuisance law is flexible enough to address evolving harms.

The judge also supported the school districts’ claims of unique harm, distinguishing their resource expenditures to address mental health crises and social media’s disruptive effects in schools from generalized public harm. She held plaintiffs can seek abatement for the alleged nuisance.

The first trials in the litigation are scheduled for October 2025. Plaintiffs’ attorneys assert the addictive design of these platforms has disrupted education and harmed youth, while companies like Meta and Google deny the allegations, highlighting their efforts to create safer experiences for young users.