The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a bid by Meta Platforms to block a lawsuit filed by the state of Vermont accusing the company of designing addictive social media platforms that harm teenagers.
The decision allows the case brought by Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark to move forward in state court, marking another legal setback for Meta as it faces mounting litigation over the impact of social media on youth mental health.
Vermont lawsuit centers on teen addiction claims
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleges that Meta intentionally designed Instagram and Facebook features to maximize compulsive use among minors in order to increase advertising revenue and user engagement.
Vermont argues that the company exploited “neurological and psychological vulnerabilities” in young users through platform design choices such as infinite scrolling, notifications, recommendation algorithms and engagement-based feedback systems.
State officials claim these practices contributed to rising levels of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and other mental health problems among teenagers.
Supreme Court rejects Meta’s appeal
Meta had asked the Supreme Court to overturn a Vermont Supreme Court ruling that allowed the state’s lawsuit to proceed.
The company argued that Vermont courts lacked jurisdiction because Meta is headquartered outside the state and that allowing the case to continue would violate its constitutional due process rights under the 14th Amendment.
However, Vermont courts previously ruled that Meta’s extensive business activity, advertising operations, and large user base within the state were sufficient to establish jurisdiction.
By declining to hear the appeal, the Supreme Court left the lower court ruling intact without commenting on the merits of the underlying claims.
Broader legal pressure on social media companies
The Vermont lawsuit is part of a broader nationwide legal campaign involving dozens of states, school districts, and private plaintiffs targeting major social media companies over alleged harms to children and teenagers.
More than 40 state attorneys general have pursued legal action or investigations related to youth addiction and online safety concerns tied to platforms operated by Meta and other tech companies.
Meta has also recently faced courtroom defeats in California and New Mexico involving similar allegations over social media addiction and child safety risks.
Internal research and public scrutiny
The lawsuits have drawn renewed attention to internal company research disclosed in recent years suggesting that Instagram could worsen body image and mental health issues for some teenage users.
Critics argue that social media companies prioritized growth and engagement metrics despite evidence of potential harm to minors.
Meta has repeatedly defended its platforms and said it has introduced tools aimed at improving teen safety, including parental controls, content restrictions, screen-time reminders, and specialized “Teen Accounts.”
Meta response
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Meta reiterated that it believes federal standards rather than state-by-state litigation are the best approach for regulating online youth safety.
The company said it remains committed to developing safety tools for young users and working with lawmakers on industry-wide protections.
Growing debate over platform accountability
The case reflects a growing legal and political debate in the United States over whether technology companies should be held responsible for the psychological effects of their platforms on minors.
Lawmakers, regulators, and advocacy groups have increasingly pushed for stronger oversight of social media algorithms, age-verification systems and data collection practices involving children.
The Vermont lawsuit will now continue through the state court system, where Meta is expected to continue contesting the claims.
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