A class action suit targeting Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram was filed this month in the Federal Court of Australia by law firm MinterEllison. Eight plaintiffs, all under 18, allege that the platforms’ algorithms exposed them to harmful content and deliberately kept them hooked. The filing marks the first Australian lawsuit to hold a social‑media giant accountable for child harm.
The suit accuses Meta of using algorithmic curation to push graphic and extremist material toward minors, and of designing engagement features that foster addiction. Plaintiffs claim they suffered psychological distress and lost schooling time as a result. A court‑issued suppression order now bars any reporting that might disclose the identities of the applicants or the precise claims in the statement.
Meta’s exposure to legal scrutiny is not new. In August last year the company agreed to pay $18 billion to settle similar claims in the United States. Meanwhile, Australia has already banned users under 16 from accessing Facebook and Instagram and is drafting rules that would let parents or children switch off algorithm‑driven feeds.
MinterEllison said the case could set a significant legal precedent in Australia. “We believe this lawsuit will force Meta to rethink how it treats minors on its platforms,” the firm added. Meta has yet to issue a statement on the filing.
The court will determine the next steps in the coming weeks, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July. If the case proceeds, it could spur new regulatory measures and force Meta to implement stricter safeguards for young users.