The key facts
- A class action lawsuit against Meta has been filed in the Federal Court of Australia on behalf of eight claimants
- Legal support is provided by MinterEllison and Litigation Lending Services
- Meta rejects the allegations and intends to actively defend itself
Lawsuit in the Federal Court of Australia
American technology company Meta has faced a class action lawsuit in Australia: it is claimed that 'addictive' features of Facebook and Instagram harmed children and teenagers. The lawsuit was filed in the Federal Court on behalf of eight claimants and seeks compensation for users exposed to harmful content or who developed an addiction to social media, SBS News reports. Law firm MinterEllison and litigation funder Litigation Lending Services stated that the case concerns issues of the design and operation of social networks. The Federal Court in Sydney on Monday issued an order prohibiting the publication of details of the lawsuit and the identities of the claimants.
Context of the ban for minors
The lawsuit emerged amid growing attention to children's online safety. On December 10, 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use by children under 16, requiring major platforms to prevent minors from creating accounts.
Meta's response and a separate case in the US
Meta rejected the allegations and stated that it would actively defend itself. Separately, a judge in New Mexico, Francis Mathew, ordered Meta to pay $25 billion following a jury verdict that the company misled consumers in a case concerning unauthorized access to Facebook user data linked to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The judge considered a penalty of over $219 billion justified but reduced it to $25 billion. Meta announced its intention to appeal the decision, arguing that the verdict threatens constitutional guarantees and implies excessive sanctions.
