A federal judge has decided not to hold Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally liable in 25 lawsuits alleging the company’s social media platforms harmed children’s mental health. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, rejected claims that Zuckerberg apparently led efforts on Facebook and Instagram to hide from young people the dangers of using social media.
Enough evidence to hold Zuckerberg personally responsible
The plaintiffs said Zuckerberg had a “directing spirit” behind Meta’s alleged efforts to minimize its mental health risks, and accused him of ignoring warnings internally but Justice Rogers ruled that the mere possession of the corporation’s power did not establish its own liability. He did not find sufficient evidence that Zuckerberg personally engaged in specific misconduct related to the transaction, although his decision does not affect the allegations against Meta itself.
An ongoing legal battle against social media companies
The lawsuits are part of a larger wave of lawsuits against tech giants like Meta, Google, ByteDance and Snap, with children, families and school districts seeking damages for alleged social media-induced harassment his involvement with Previn Warren, representing the plaintiffs’ affiliates as f, said they will continue to gather evidence to “discover the truth” about Big Tech prioritizing profits over child safety.
