Italian court opens first hearing in lawsuit against Meta and TikTok over minors’ social media use
A court in Milan has begun examining a case brought against Meta Platforms and TikTok over alleged harms linked to social media design and underage users.
The first hearing has taken place in a lawsuit filed before the Milan Business Court against Meta Platforms and TikTok concerning the use of social media platforms by minors.
The case was brought by MOIGE together with a group of families. According to the claimants, the case concerns an estimated 3.5 million Italian children aged between 7 and 14 who are allegedly using social media services in violation of age restrictions.
The proceedings are notable because the claim is presented as a class-wide injunction linked to child protection in digital environments. The lawsuit focuses on platform design features and algorithmic systems alleged to encourage compulsive use among minors.
During the hearing, lawyers representing Meta and TikTok reportedly challenged the jurisdiction of Italian courts to hear the case. The companies also contested additional evidence submitted by the claimants concerning internal awareness of the effects of platform design mechanisms on younger users.
The material referenced by the plaintiffs includes allegations related to infinite scrolling, behavioural profiling, and variable reinforcement systems designed to maximise user engagement.
Lawyers representing the families argued that the case concerns public health and child protection issues falling within Italian national jurisdiction. They also requested an accelerated timeline for proceedings, arguing that delays could prolong potential harms affecting minors.
The court is expected to establish the next procedural steps and hearing schedule in the coming weeks.
A central procedural issue will now be whether the Milan court confirms jurisdiction over the case despite objections raised by Meta and TikTok. The outcome could clarify how national courts in Europe handle claims against global platforms involving algorithmic design, child protection, and platform accountability.
