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Lawsuit seeks better age verification, transparency on

social

media harms

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Plaintiffs cite health issues linked to social media use

among

minors

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Over 3 million accounts in Italy estimated to be underage

users

By Giselda Vagnoni

ROME, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A group of Italian families has

filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram and TikTok,

accusing the platforms of failing to enforce age restrictions

and using addictive features that harm children's mental health.

The case asks a Milan court to require the platforms to

adopt stronger age-verification systems for users under 14, in

line with Italian law.

It also seeks to make Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram and

TikTok remove potentially manipulative algorithms and provide

transparent information on the possible harms of overuse.

LAWSUIT TO BE HEARD NEXT YEAR

The action, filed by law firm Ambrosio & Commodo together

with the Italian Parents' Movement (MOIGE), is scheduled to be

heard by the Milan court's business chamber from 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 late on Monday.

A Meta spokesperson said the company was committed to

keeping young people safe online and that "teen safety should be

an industry-wide priority".

"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,"

the spokesperson added.

TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

GLOBAL SCRUTINY OF SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY

Several countries, including Australia and some in Europe,

have taken or are considering measures to curb social media use

among minors.

Facebook, Instagram and TikTok also face dozens of lawsuits

in the U.S. accusing them of enticing and addicting millions of

children to their platforms.

In Italy, the plaintiffs estimate that more than three

million of the 90 million Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

accounts are used by children under 14.

They argue that social media use among minors can lead to

health issues including eating disorders, sleep deprivation,

depression, and impaired academic performance.

The Turin-based law firm and MOIGE said they were also

preparing a subsequent class action lawsuit, open to parents

whose children have allegedly been harmed by using social media.