Meta faces class action lawsuit in Australia over alleged social media addiction among children

The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court on behalf of eight applicants, seeks compensation for users exposed to harmful content or who developed social media addiction, according to SBS News.

Australia became the world’s first country to enforce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16 on Dec. 10, 2025, requiring major platforms to prevent underage users from holding accounts.

The lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny of technology companies over children’s online safety.

Law firm MinterEllison and litigation funder Litigation Lending Services said the case raises concerns about the design and operation of social media platforms.

The Federal Court in Sydney issued a suppression order Monday preventing publication of details of the claim and the applicants’ identities.

Meta rejected the allegations, saying it would defend itself vigorously.

Separately, a US judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found the company misled consumers in a case involving unauthorized access to Facebook users’ data linked to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Judge Francis Mathew said a penalty exceeding $219 billion was warranted but reduced it to $25 billion.

Meta said it would appeal the ruling, arguing that the judgment threatened constitutional protections and imposed excessive penalties.