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No. 0186

Published 15 August 2026

Addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok clear Section 230

Why it matters

Courts have allowed social media addiction claims against Meta and TikTok to proceed despite Section 230, the provision that has shielded platforms from liability for user content since 1996, and thousands of cases could follow. Legislators are using the openings to push for reform or repeal, while critics warn that dismantling the statute would damage online expression broadly. The legal floor under the platforms is moving for the first time in nearly thirty years.