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Families Sue Meta and TikTok Over Child Safety Failures
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Last Updated: Oct 9, 2025
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A group of Italian families has filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, accusing the platforms of failing to protect children from addictive and harmful online behavior.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- The lawsuit claims platforms fail to verify users under 14.
- Plaintiffs say algorithms harm children’s mental health and behavior.
- Over 3 million underage Italian users are estimated on social media.
The case, first reported by Reuters, claims the companies do not properly enforce age restrictions and use algorithms that negatively affect minors’ mental health.
The plaintiffs want a Milan court to force the platforms to implement stronger age-verification systems for users under 14, as required by Italian law. The lawsuit also calls for greater transparency about how social media use can impact children’s well-being.
The case, filed by law firm Ambrosio & Commodo along with the Italian Parents’ Movement (MOIGE), is expected to be heard by the court’s business chamber in February 2026.
“It’s too easy for children to bypass the age ban. This action is about stopping conduct that is harmful to a large number of individuals,” said lawyer Renato Ambrosio in a statement sent to Reuters.
A Meta spokesperson said the company is “committed to keeping young people safe online” and that “teen safety should be an industry-wide priority.”
They added, “With Teen Accounts we provide default protections for teens limiting who can contact them, the content they can see, and how much time they spend on Facebook and Instagram. We also have measures in place to prevent teens from lying about their age.”
TikTok did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The lawsuit comes amid growing global concern over how social media affects minors. Governments in countries such as Australia and across Europe are considering measures to limit minors’ use of these platforms.
In the U.S., the same companies face multiple lawsuits accusing them of addicting millions of young users.
In Italy, the plaintiffs estimate that over three million underage users are active across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, with reported effects including depression, sleep deprivation, eating disorders, and academic decline.
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