Liability rules influence how aggressively companies design safeguards for minors, including age verification, default settings and content controls.
Whether — and when — social media companies can be sued or punished for harms tied to what happens on their apps.
Broader liability could prompt platforms to remove more content or restrict features, raising concerns about free expression and the costs of running online services.
Parents, school districts and state attorneys general can sue platforms under theories such as product liability, public nuisance or consumer protection law.
Legislatures have passed or proposed measures — including age-verification and design-code laws — that impose specific duties on platforms serving minors.
Judges decide case by case whether claims are barred by Section 230 or the First Amendment, or whether they target conduct outside those protections.
Lawsuits, a federal liability shield and new research are reshaping the debate over kids and social media.
Read the guide →Lawsuits, state actions and a federal liability shield collide as policymakers weigh whether platforms should answer in court for alleged harms to young users.
Read the brief →