Meta has begun removing hundreds of advertisements on Facebook and Instagram placed by trial lawyers seeking to recruit clients for lawsuits alleging social media addiction and harm to minors. The company stated it is actively defending itself against these lawsuits and will not permit lawyers to profit from its platforms while simultaneously claiming they are harmful.
This move comes shortly after Meta and YouTube were found negligent in a California case concerning social media addiction, a verdict Meta plans to appeal. The company is facing thousands of lawsuits from individuals and school districts claiming it intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive to young users, leading to mental health issues. Meta plans to ban future ads that promote this type of litigation.