Arkansas is set to receive at least $172 million from a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over allegations related to online child safety. The settlement, part of a $17.1 billion agreement between Meta and 51 state attorneys general, requires Meta to implement new safety measures. The agreement is pending court approval.
Attorney General Tim Griffin and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders have focused extensively on holding social media companies accountable for their impact on minors. While they called the Meta settlement a success, several other cases against social media platforms initiated by Arkansas remain unresolved.
### TikTok Lawsuits In 2023, Griffin filed lawsuits in Cleburne and Union counties against TikTok. The lawsuits accuse the platform of misleading parents regarding the availability of mature content and allege violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. TikTok has invoked Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content. However, a Cleburne County judge denied TikTok’s motion to dismiss, and a trial is scheduled for March 2027. The Union County case remains pending with no trial date set.
### Google and YouTube Case In 2024, the attorney general brought a lawsuit in Phillips County against Google and its subsidiary, YouTube, accusing them of targeting children with addictive and harmful content. A judge denied the companies’ motion to dismiss the case based on Section 230 protections. The companies have appealed the decision, and the case is now before the Arkansas Court of Appeals.
### Snapchat Lawsuit Griffin filed suit against Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, in June. The lawsuit alleges that Snapchat is designed to addict minors, constituting deceptive practices. Originally filed in Phillips County, the case is currently in federal court after Snap requested a jurisdictional transfer. The attorney general is seeking to return the case to the Phillips County court.
### Discord and Roblox Lawsuit Another case, filed in June in a Los Angeles court, targets the social gaming platforms Discord and Roblox. The lawsuit claims the platforms fail to protect children from sexual exploitation and accuses them of violating the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Public Nuisance Law. A hearing is scheduled for November.
### Social Media Restrictions and Legislative Efforts Alongside these lawsuits, Arkansas is defending several laws aimed at restricting minors' access to social media. A 2023 law requiring age verification for new social media accounts was struck down as unconstitutional. A revised version approved in 2025 has also faced legal challenges, and a federal judge blocked its enforcement in April. The state has appealed the decision, and the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear arguments in the coming weeks.
Separately, another 2025 law allows parents to sue social media companies for content contributing to issues such as eating disorders, suicidality, or addiction among children. That law was also blocked by a federal judge, and the state has appealed.
Governor Sanders and Attorney General Griffin have championed these efforts as part of a broader push for greater accountability from social media platforms and stronger protections for children in Arkansas.