Meta pulls Facebook ads recruiting for social media addiction lawsuits

Meta has taken down advertisements on its social media platforms that law firms used to attract clients for upcoming lawsuits about social media addiction. These ads, which targeted users claiming harm from excessive platform use, were removed as part of the company’s efforts to curb legal claims against its services.

Recent Legal Developments

Following setbacks in two significant lawsuits, Meta has intensified its stance against legal actions tied to social media dependency. In a landmark case in California, a young woman successfully sued the company and YouTube, alleging that their platforms contributed to her childhood addiction. This victory highlights the growing scrutiny of Meta’s role in digital engagement.

“We will not allow trial lawyers to profit from our platforms while simultaneously claiming they are harmful,” stated Meta in its recent statement. The company’s move aims to shift focus from legal repercussions to improving user experience through safety tools.

Lawyer’s Perspective

Emily Jeffcott, representing Morgan & Morgan—a firm that had previously run such ads—called the action “another example of Meta trying to control the narrative and avoid accountability.” She argued that Meta’s resources could be better allocated to developing tools that reduce problematic usage and identify users under 13, rather than removing ads.

Jeffcott added, “Blocking the ads doesn’t make the harms go away. It just makes it harder on victims,” emphasizing that the company’s efforts to limit legal claims may not address the root issues of social media impact.

Ad Campaigns and Platforms

American news outlet Axios reported that firms like Morgan & Morgan and Sokolove Law had seen “dozens” of their ads deactivated. These advertisements appeared on Facebook and Instagram, with some also running on Threads and Meta’s Audience Network, which extends ad campaigns to third-party platforms such as mobile apps.

Despite these removals, some ads remain active as of Friday. For example, one from Morgan & Morgan outlines potential negative effects of social media use and asserts it is advocating for users. Meta’s advertising standards allow it to remove ads that “negatively affect our relationship with users” or “promote content contrary to our competitive interests.”

Future Legal Implications

The recent cases in the US have set a precedent for similar lawsuits. In March 2026, a court in New Mexico mandated Meta to pay $375m for misleading users about the safety of its platforms for children. A jury determined the company was responsible for exposing minors to sexually explicit material and contact with sexual predators.

In the California case, a woman received $6m in damages for her childhood addiction, with Meta owing 70% and Google 30%. While Snap and TikTok were initially named as defendants, they settled before the trial. Meta has expressed its intent to appeal both verdicts, disputing the outcomes.

Additional reporting by Osmond Chia. Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world’s top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.