A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Australia's Federal Court against Meta Platforms, alleging that its Facebook and Instagram platforms exposed children to harmful content and kept them addicted through their algorithms, Reuters reported on Thursday. Al Jazeera also reported the filing, describing it as a class action that could be the first in Australia to blame social media for harming its users.

Source: Reuters

The suit, filed this month by law firm MinterEllison, is brought on behalf of eight plaintiffs who allege they were harmed by Meta while they were under the age of 18, and who are seeking compensation. These are allegations that have not been tested in court. In a suppression order on Monday, the court prohibited reporting any information that could reveal the identity of the applicants or the statement of claim — this report therefore names no plaintiff.

"We are aware of this claim and we will defend ourselves vigorously," a Meta spokesperson said by email, according to Reuters.

8plaintiffs in the class action
Under 18age at which plaintiffs allege they were harmed
$18 billionMeta's August settlement with nearly all US states over similar claims — yaani roughly ₹1.7 lakh crore

The case lands amid rising tension between Australia and the big technology platforms. Australia has introduced a world-first ban on social media for children under 16, and newly proposed rules could let users switch off algorithm-driven content in their feeds — a debate followed closely by Punjabi and Indian families in Australia, Canada, the UK and elsewhere in the diaspora, where the same platforms are part of daily life.

In August, Meta agreed to pay $18 billion to settle with nearly all US states to resolve claims that it designed social media to addict children, Reuters noted. A settlement is not an admission tested in court, and the Australian case will now test similar allegations before the Federal Court.

What is solid

  • A class action was filed in Australia's Federal Court this month by MinterEllison on behalf of eight plaintiffs.
  • Meta has said it is aware of the claim and will defend itself vigorously.
  • A court suppression order bars reporting anything that could identify the applicants.

What is only claimed

  • Whether Facebook and Instagram harmed the plaintiffs, exposed children to harmful content or were designed to addict them — these are the plaintiffs' allegations, denied in effect by Meta's decision to defend the claim, and not yet tested in court.