--- title: "Class action accuses Facebook and Instagram of addicting Australian children" description: "A Federal Court suit filed by MinterEllison for eight applicants could be the first in Australia to blame social media for harming its users, and Meta…" url: https://insurance.skoop.news/meta-sued-in-australian-class-action-4deebb/ published: 2026-10-24T04:00:06.073615-04:00 modified: 2026-10-24T04:00:06.073625-04:00 section: "Insurance" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Australia", "Litigation Lending Services", "Federal Court", "Minter Ellison", "Big Tech", "Litigation Lending", "Australian", "Facebook", "Instagram", "claims"] hashtags: ["#LitigationLendingServices", "#FederalCourt", "#MinterEllison", "#Claims", "#insurance"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Australia_satellite_plane.jpg/1280px-Australia_satellite_plane.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Class action accuses Facebook and Instagram of addicting Australian children > A Federal Court suit filed by MinterEllison for eight applicants could be the first in Australia to blame social media for harming its users, and Meta says it will fight it. Published 2026-10-24 · Updated 2026-10-24 · Insurance, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - A class-action lawsuit filed in an Australian court alleges that Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram exposed children to harmful content and kept them addicted through algorithms [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). - The suit seeks compensation for Facebook and Instagram users who were exposed to harmful content or developed an addiction to social media [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). - Minter Ellison partner William Nolan said the proceeding raises important questions about the design and operation of social media platforms and their impact on children and teenagers in Australia [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). ## The claim against Meta A class-action lawsuit filed in an Australian court alleges that Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram exposed children to harmful content and kept them addicted through algorithms [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). The suit could be the first in Australia to blame social media for harming its users, particularly children and teenagers [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). It was filed in the Federal Court, which is Australia's second-highest court, by law firm MinterEllison [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). The filing is on behalf of eight applicants [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). ## Who could be compensated The suit seeks compensation for Facebook and Instagram users who were exposed to harmful content or developed an addiction to social media [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). Law firm Minter Ellison and Litigation Lending said in a statement that the suit was filed [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). Litigation Lending Services said it is funding the class action for Australian families who would have no practical means of pursuing these claims against a global technology giant [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). ## What the lawyers and Meta say Minter Ellison partner William Nolan said the proceeding raises important questions about the design and operation of social media platforms and their impact on children and teenagers in Australia [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). A Meta spokesperson said the company is aware of the claim and will defend itself vigorously [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). ## A suppression order limits reporting The Federal Court in Sydney issued a suppression order on Monday stopping publication of details of the claim and the identity of the applicants [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). The order prohibits reporting of any information that could reveal the applicants' identity, and of the statement of claim [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). ## Tension between Australia and Big Tech The lawsuit comes amid rising tensions between Australia and Big Tech after a world-first ban on social media for children under 16 [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). Newly proposed rules in Australia could also let users switch off algorithm-driven content on their feeds [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). ## What it means for you If you or your child used Facebook or Instagram, the suit seeks compensation for users who were exposed to harmful content or developed an addiction to social media [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). Litigation Lending Services says it is funding the action for Australian families who would have no practical means of pursuing such claims alone [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). Because of the Sydney suppression order, details of the claim and the identity of the applicants cannot be published [[2]](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html). Meta has said it will defend itself vigorously [[1]](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm). ## Sources 1. [Meta Sued in Australian Class Action Over Alleged Social Media Harm to Children](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/10/23/890114.htm) — Insurance Journal 2. [Meta sued in Australia class action alleging harm to children](https://techxplore.com/news/2026-10-meta-sued-australia-class-action.html) — Tech Xplore Image: Photo: Reto Stöckl / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Australia_satellite_plane.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/