A judge has granted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s request to dismiss lawsuits alleging personal responsibility for fueling social media addiction through his platforms.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Monday, absolving Zuckerberg of liability while affirming the case against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuits, representing youth, contend that features on Meta’s platforms are engineered to addict children.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (Credits: Bloomberg)
They argue that despite warnings regarding the safety of Instagram and Facebook for kids, Zuckerberg disregarded them, possessing exclusive knowledge of the potential harm to minors posed by Meta’s products. The plaintiffs assert that Zuckerberg should be held accountable due to his public representations regarding Meta’s product safety, given his prominence.
However, Rogers ruled that Zuckerberg was not obligated to disclose safety information, as he lacks a “special relationship” with young users. She emphasized that the plaintiffs failed to establish any such relationship with Zuckerberg, dismissing this argument.
Mark Zuckerberg (Credits: Mint)
Zuckerberg’s public status as the face of Meta did not render him liable, according to the ruling. While Zuckerberg was absolved of liability, Rogers allowed the plaintiffs to amend and refile their lawsuits.
Those naming claims against Zuckerberg must consolidate their concerns regarding his role in a single supplement. The mentioned lawsuits are among several others filed against Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat.
