Supreme Court Declines Meta’s Appeal in Vermont Lawsuit
The United States Supreme Court has opted not to entertain an appeal by Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, regarding a lawsuit filed by Vermont’s attorney general. This Supreme Court decision arrives amidst growing legal challenges facing social media companies.
The legal action against Meta was initiated by Vermont in 2023 and has been allowed to proceed by the state’s highest court. The lawsuit contends that Meta purposefully designed features to be addictive, impacting young users. Vermont asserts jurisdiction based on the significant number of teenagers using these platforms within the state.
Meta challenged the lawsuit, arguing its lack of direct connections to Vermont. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal without comment, following similar judicial decisions against social media giants like Meta and YouTube concerning addiction cases in California and New Mexico.
The origins of Vermont’s lawsuit trace back to an investigation conducted by a bipartisan group of state attorneys general. Reports have emerged based on Meta’s internal research, highlighting the detrimental effects of Instagram on teenagers, particularly girls. Notably, 13.5% of surveyed teen girls reported increased suicidal thoughts, while 17% indicated worsened eating disorders due to Instagram.
The widespread use of social media among American teenagers is evident, with research from the Pew Research Center indicating that nearly all teens aged 13 to 17 engage with these platforms, and a third report using them “almost constantly.”
Despite the legal challenges, Meta maintains that it has implemented numerous tools to aid teenagers and their families. The company has also expressed a willingness to collaborate with state authorities on establishing standards for social media use among youth.
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, emphasizing the accountability of companies like Meta when they conduct business in the state and impact children’s well-being.
