Meta Removes Plaintiff-Recruitment Ads as Over 5,700 Addiction Lawsuits Loom
Meta has removed Facebook and Instagram ads recruiting plaintiffs for more than 3,300 state and 2,400 federal social media addiction lawsuits accusing it of addictive design. The move follows two jury verdicts totaling $381 million in damages and highlights Meta’s aggressive defense strategy against mental-health claims.
1. Meta Pulls Plaintiff-Recruitment Ads
Meta has removed ads from Facebook and Instagram that were aimed at recruiting individuals to join ongoing litigation accusing the company of designing its platforms to be addictive for young users. The ads were part of law firms’ contingency-based campaigns seeking to sign up plaintiffs by highlighting alleged mental health harms.
2. Major Jury Verdicts Totaling $381 Million
At the end of March, a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and Alphabet’s Google to pay $6 million in a case involving alleged Instagram-induced depression and suicidal thoughts. A separate New Mexico jury found Meta liable for misleading minors and enabling exploitation, imposing $375 million in damages in a single ruling.
3. More Than 5,700 Lawsuits and Defense Strategy
Over 3,300 addiction claims are pending in California state court, while approximately 2,400 cases by individuals and public entities are centralized in federal court. Meta maintains it takes extensive safety measures and is actively defending against all claims, stating it will not allow trial lawyers to profit from its platforms while alleging harm.