Meta Faces Landmark Australian Class Action Over Alleged Social Media Harm to Children

The case may become Australia’s first class action to hold social media platforms accountable for user harm.

Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a class action lawsuit in Australia. The suit alleges that addictive design features on its platforms are harming children and teenagers.

Filed by law firm MinterEllison in the Australian Federal Court, the action seeks compensation for current and former Facebook and Instagram users. Claimants allege exposure to harmful content or social media addiction resulting from platform use, the firm said in a statement issued Thursday.

“This proceeding raises important questions regarding the design and operation of social media platforms and their impact on young Australians,” said William Nolan, a partner at MinterEllison, in the statement. “Those matters will now be addressed through the Federal Court process.”

The suit represents eight plaintiffs who allege they suffered harm from Meta’s platforms while under the age of 18.

A suppression order issued on Monday bars publication of any information that could identify the plaintiffs or disclose details of the statement of claim.

“We are aware of this claim and intend to defend ourselves vigorously,” a Meta spokesperson said.

Litigation Lending Services said it is funding the class action on behalf of Australian families who “would have no practical means of pursuing these claims against a global technology giant.”

The case arrives amid escalating tensions between Australia and major technology firms, following a world-first social media ban for children under 16 enacted in 2025 and newly proposed rules that could allow users to disable algorithm-driven content feeds.

In August, Meta agreed to pay $18 billion to settle claims with nearly all U.S. states over allegations that it designed its platforms to addict children.

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