Dutch foundation sues Meta on behalf of Danish parents and children over social media harm

A Dutch non-profit organisation has filed a class-action lawsuit against Meta in Copenhagen City Court, alleging that Facebook and Instagram are designed to be addictive and have caused psychological harm to Danish minors.

The foundation Somi (Stichting Onderzoek Marktinformatie) is seeking 25,000 Danish kroner (approx. €3,350) in compensation for each affected minor, claiming the platforms have violated their rights and inflicted social and psychological damage, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

The lawsuit follows a recent US court ruling where a mother and her 20-year-old daughter successfully argued that Meta and Google had deliberately made the young woman addicted to their platforms, knowing it would harm her mental health.

Somi alleges that Meta systematically exploits children’s psychological vulnerabilities to maximise platform use and ad revenue, “without real protection” for minors. Features like algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, social comparison tools, fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) triggers, and beauty filters have been linked to rising rates of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and poor academic performance among young users, the foundation states.

The organisation claims Meta has long been aware of these harms, citing “internal studies and repeated warnings from employees, whistleblowers, experts, legislators, and other stakeholders” about risks to underage users.

Beyond compensation, Somi demands that the court declare Meta in violation of EU and Danish law and order the company to remove or modify harmful design features. It also calls for stricter age verification—such as Denmark’s MitID system—to prevent underage access, and for Meta to stop profiting from data collected from children.

Meta’s Nordic policy chief, Martin Ruby, referred DR to the company’s international press office, which did not respond before publication.

The lawsuit remains open for additional Danish parents to join. Similar cases have been filed by Somi against Meta in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

Last week, Lotte Rubæk, a former member of Meta’s global expert panel on self-harm and eating disorders, testified in the US case, calling the ruling a “tobacco moment” for tech giants. Miriam Michaelsen, head of Denmark’s Media Council for Children and Youth, described the US decision as “insanely important,” stating it proves “profit is prioritised over child protection” in the industry.