Court Rules Meta Insurers Have No Duty to Defend Against Social Media Addiction Suits
Court Rules Meta Insurers Have No Duty to Defend Against Social Media Addiction Suits
On February 27, 2026, a Delaware state court ruled that a group of insurance companies have no duty to defend Meta Platforms, Inc. and Instagram LLC (“Meta”) against thousands of lawsuits alleging that Meta: (a) designed its platforms to maximize engagement by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and embedding addictive features into its platforms; and (b) intentionally targeted minors with its design choices.
The insurers moved for summary judgment, arguing that they owed no duty to defend Meta because the underlying complaints exclusively allege deliberate conduct centered on Meta’s “deliberate design choices.” Specifically, they point to the allegations that Meta “intentionally design[ed]” or “chose” to “design[] its social media platforms to attract and addict youth.” In granting summary judgment, the Court concluded that the insurers have no duty to defend Meta because “no allegations – whether express, inferable, or extrinsic – support a conclusion that Meta’s conduct was accidental.”
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Lisa Omoto is a Partner in Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP’s Los Angeles office and focuses her practice on consumer protection litigation.
