Class Action Lawsuit Against Meta in Australia Over Alleged Harm to Children

It has been reported that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Meta in the Federal Court of Australia on the grounds that children have suffered harm due to the addictive designs and harmful content of Facebook and Instagram.

According to a statement by the law firm MinterEllison representing the plaintiffs, the lawsuit against Meta and its affiliated entities was submitted to the Federal Court of Australia. The lawsuit covers claims for compensation on behalf of current and former users who used Facebook and Instagram while under the age of 18, were exposed to harmful content on the platforms, or allegedly developed social media addiction.

Shaun Bonett, Chairman of Litigation Lending Services, the company funding the lawsuit, stated that protecting children from harm is of great importance for the public interest. David Taylor, a partner at MinterEllison, indicated that the lawsuit includes claims that Meta was aware of potential harms to children and used features aimed at encouraging users to spend more time on the platforms.