Meta, the company behind social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, is facing a lawsuit accusing it of failing to protect children on its platforms. The lawsuit was filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who claimed that Meta proactively directed minors toward sexually explicit and dangerous content and that the two platforms enabled sexual predators to groom minors. The lawsuit accuses Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, of violating New Mexico’s Unfair Practice Act.

In January 2024, an unredacted version of the New Mexico AG’s lawsuit was published, showing that an Apple executive contacted Meta officials in 2020 to warn them that their 12-year-old child had been solicited on Facebook. The complaint caused enough concern among Meta employees that they theorized the Facebook app could be pulled from Apple’s App Store. It is one of several reports from the redacted lawsuit that show Meta employees’ concerns over child safety on the platform.

In January 2024, Meta, along with the parent companies of TikTok and Snapchat, were named in a lawsuit brought by the Nevada Attorney General. The state claims the platforms are hazardous to public health, particularly the health of minors and young people. In mid-February 2024, New York City also filed a children’s mental health lawsuit against Facebook and other major social media platforms.

In October 2023, 42 State AGs took coordinated action against Meta, alleging the company directly targeted minors with addictive content. The New Mexico and New York City lawsuits are seen as separate from this legal action.

Meta (formerly known as Facebook) is no stranger to legal trouble. It has faced numerous lawsuits from state AGs, national governments, consumer groups, corporations, former employees, and individuals. This includes class action lawsuits where ordinary Facebook and Instagram users have received settlement payouts from Meta.

The most notable recent Facebook class action lawsuit was a privacy case, with claimants accusing the company of sharing user data with third-party companies without their consent. Last year, Meta agreed to settle the case for $725 million. It was considered one of the biggest class action lawsuits in history in terms of claimant participation. Each claimant is entitled to a share of the Facebook class action settlement.

Millions of Facebook users received notifications from the company informing them they would be getting a payment as a result of the settlement of the privacy lawsuit above. Many users were worried that the Facebook notifications were a scam. This was not the case, as the company contacted millions of users to inform them of their upcoming payment. However, we should stress that you should always be careful when receiving such messages and be aware that Facebook is unlikely to ask you for financial information like bank details or social security numbers.

The relationship between social media and poor health has long been a hot-button topic. Facebook and Instagram have been sued for their roles in this before, including a major case brought by 1,200 US families in 2022. The state of Nevada and New York City have also filed lawsuits against Meta and other social media platforms in 2024. The lawsuits accuse the companies of being damaging to mental health, particularly to minors.

Facebook has paid numerous settlements in lawsuits since its founding in 2004. This includes a record $5 billion paid to the FTC over the company’s privacy policies. More recently, people have been entitled to a settlement claim from Meta due to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where the company was found to have profited from selling users’ data.

How much can you get from a Facebook lawsuit payout? It depends on numerous factors. The recent $725 million Facebook privacy settlement had a large number of claimants – numbering several million – with each entitled to a share. Other lawsuits may see higher payouts, but it will depend on the individual circumstances.

Importantly, if you join a Facebook class action lawsuit, it is unlikely that you will need to appear in court or even, in many cases, hire a lawyer. Large class action lawsuits, such as the recent privacy lawsuit, normally only require the filling in of a claim form to join and receive compensation. 

Does Facebook Have A Lawsuit?

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing numerous lawsuits, including lawsuits brought by state attorney generals across the United States.

What Is The Facebook Lawsuit?

Facebook (Meta) is being sued by the state of New Mexico for failing to protect children from explicit and dangerous content on its platforms. In addition, the lawsuit alleges the platform is being used by sexual predators to contact and groom minors. 

Is The Facebook Lawsuit Real?

Yes. The lawsuit is being brought by the Attorney General of New Mexico. It features numerous damaging accusations about Facebook’s failure to protect children. It is one of several lawsuits the company is facing.

Is Facebook Lawsuit Claim Legit?

Yes. Facebook has already paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to claimants to settle privacy lawsuits. It is possible that new class action lawsuits will be launched against the company.

When Is The Facebook Lawsuit Payout?

Facebook has recently agreed to pay $725 million. The company has already handed over the settlement money.  A Facebook claim status page has been set up for claimants to check their claims. The deadline for making a claim was August 25th, 2023.

How To File Facebook Class Action Lawsuit?

If you have a legitimate grievance against Facebook, you can speak to a lawyer to begin a claim. Most likely, you will join a current Facebook class action lawsuit as a claimant. This may require nothing more than filling in a form.

How Much Money Will I Get From Facebook Lawsuit?

It depends. Recent class action settlements saw claimants share $725 million after Facebook breached data protection rules. Typically, class action claimants share the settlement money equally.