On Monday, August 10th, 2026, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that thousands of online safety lawsuits against social media companies must proceed. The court declined to dismiss the cases, finding that Meta and TikTok had appealed too early in the legal process.

The court also determined that the technology liability shield provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act does not protect these companies from the lawsuits. This ruling means that social media firms could be held accountable in these cases related to online safety and addiction.

This decision marks a significant moment in ongoing legal challenges facing major technology companies regarding their platforms' impact on users.

Sources