BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts' highest court has ruled that Meta Platforms Inc must face a lawsuit accusing the company of designing its Instagram platform to addict children and teenagers.
The ruling, read by Judge Dalila Argaez Wendlandt last week, marked the first time a state appeals court has tested whether federal legal protections for internet companies also apply in cases of platform designs deemed harmful.
"This lawsuit does not seek to sue Meta for content created by users, but for the company's own actions in designing the platform," Wendlandt wrote in the ruling.
Focus on Instagram Platform Design
The case was filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, who accused Meta of knowingly exploiting children's psychological vulnerabilities for profit.
According to the court, the lawsuit does not violate Communications Decency Act Section 230 because it does not target user content, but the platform's own design and business strategy.
"The alleged losses stem from Meta's behavior, both through designs that exploit children's development and by misleading the public about Instagram's security," the ruling continued.
'Like' Feature Allegedly Causes Teen Addiction
In the lawsuit, the state highlighted various Instagram features such as notifications, the "like" button, and an endless scrolling system that is said to be designed to trigger "fear of missing out" or FOMO among teenagers.
The lawsuit also said that Meta's internal data showed a negative impact on children's mental health, but company executives still refused changes that could improve the well-being of young users.
Attorney General Campbell called this ruling a "major step in holding companies accountable for putting profits over children's safety."
Meta Denies
In its response, Meta said it disagreed with what it called a "misguided separation" between content and platform design.
The company reiterated it would prove its commitment to protecting young users as the trial continues.
This case is not the first. Previously, a jury in Los Angeles ruled that Meta and Alphabet Inc. were negligent in designing a platform that had a negative impact on young people, with compensation of up to 6 million US dollars to a victim.
In another case, Meta was also fined $375 million in a civil case filed by the state of New Mexico over alleged deception of users and exploitation of children.
Nationally, more than 30 states in the US are now pursuing similar lawsuits against Meta, making the case part of a major wave of legal pressure on the social media industry.
With this ruling, the court opens the door to the argument that the design of digital platforms - not just content - can be the basis for legal responsibility. For the technology industry, this is not just a warning, but a loud signal: the era of "we are just a platform" is starting to crack.
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