Meta begins pulling lawyer ads that sought plaintiffs after social media addiction verdict

What happened

Meta has begun removing advertisements placed by lawyers who were trying to recruit people who say they were harmed by social media as minors. It has been reported that Axios identified more than a dozen such ads deactivated on Facebook and Instagram, including placements allegedly run by large national firms like Morgan & Morgan and Sokolove Law. Meta told Axios, "We're actively defending ourselves against these lawsuits and are removing ads that attempt to recruit plaintiffs for them," adding, "We will not allow trial lawyers to profit from our platforms while simultaneously claiming they are harmful." The company appears to be leaning on parts of its terms of service to justify the takedowns.

Why it matters

This move comes roughly two weeks after a California jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a landmark case over social media addiction — a decision that sent shock waves through Big Tech and the legal world alike. Who gets to find plaintiffs matters. Does a platform that’s just been judged partly responsible now have the right to pull the mic from those seeking redress? For families who allege harm, the timing feels raw. The verdict changed the tone of the debate; now policy enforcement and litigation strategy are doing an awkward tango.

What’s next

Expect more courtroom skirmishing. Plaintiffs’ attorneys will likely argue that ad removals hinder outreach and chill their ability to assemble cases; Meta will argue it’s enforcing its rules while defending against what it sees as opportunistic recruitment. There’s also a broader question: will platforms start policing legal advertising whenever a decision cuts against them? In short, the litigation isn’t over — and neither is the public conversation about tech’s responsibilities and the messy business of who gets to tell these stories.

Sources: axios.com