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On March 24, 2026, a New Mexico jury rendered a significant verdict against Meta Platforms Inc. in a case initiated by the New Mexico Attorney General. The jury upheld claims asserting, among other allegations, that Meta’s apps failed to adequately protect teenagers from sexual predation, bullying, and harmful content such as suicide and self-injury material, and that Meta allegedly did nothing to keep users under 13 years old off the apps (New Mexico v. Meta Platforms, Inc. et al., No. D-101-CV-2023-02838 (March 24, 2026)).
On March 25, 2026, a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury rendered a verdict against Meta Platforms Inc. and Google Inc. in a case initiated by a 20-year-old woman. The jury upheld claims asserting, among other allegations, that the plaintiff’s mental health was harmed as a result of becoming addicted, as a child, to Meta’s and Google’s social media platforms (Instagram and YouTube) (Social Media Cases, No. JCCP5255 and No. 22STCV21355 (March 25, 2026)).
Concurrently, Meta and other social media platforms are facing similar allegations in ongoing proceedings in California state court and in federal multidistrict litigation.
These cases are part of a broader trend observed in recent years, characterized by a rising number of lawsuits against social media platforms, asserting that specific features and practices of these platforms either cause or contribute to harmful addictive behaviors, particularly among minors.
Israel is also joining this global trend. Claims have already been filed in Israel against social media platforms alleging harm to users and harmful addiction, especially for minors, and the New Mexico jury verdict, along with the Los Angeles County Superior Court jury verdict, may further accelerate the filing of additional claims in Israel. Israeli jurisprudence offers several ways of handling such claims from its initial stage of service to its final resolution. When similar claims are handled in Israel and elsewhere, it is very important to properly coordinate the global defense efforts.
Our firm has extensive experience in handling consumer protection claims and litigation involving social media platforms, providing tailored legal solutions to businesses facing such challenges, and effectively navigating the complexities of dispute resolution in a global setting.
For further information, please contact Ran Sprinzak or Tomer Weissman, our litigation department heads, or Hadas Bekel, our litigation partner and class actions specialist.
