In a groundbreaking ruling, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed Mark Zuckerberg as an individual defendant in about two dozen lawsuits accusing Meta Platforms Inc. and other social media companies of addicting children to their products. The decision, issued on Monday, absolves the Meta CEO of personal liability while allowing the claims against Meta as a company to proceed.
The lawsuits, filed on behalf of young people, alleged that Zuckerberg was aware of the dangers posed by Instagram and Facebook to children but chose to ignore the findings and keep the information private. However, Judge Rogers ruled that Zuckerberg did not have a “special relationship” with Meta’s users that would require him to disclose safety information.
Furthermore, the judge emphasized that holding Zuckerberg personally liable simply because he is the public face of Meta would set a dangerous precedent. She stated that such a ruling would create a duty to disclose for any public figure, which she deemed unacceptable.
While the plaintiffs have the opportunity to amend and refile their complaints, a Meta representative and the plaintiffs’ attorney have yet to comment on the ruling. This case is just one of over 1,000 suits against major social media companies, including Google, TikTok, and Snapchat, alleging harm to young users.
As the legal battle continues, the tech giants maintain their innocence, asserting that they have implemented measures to ensure the safety of young users on their platforms. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of social media and the protection of children online.