Portuguese digital rights group D3 has filed lawsuits against Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, accusing the platforms of using features designed to keep users engaged for extended periods.
The four collective actions, which allow associations to bring cases on behalf of broader groups of consumers, follow similar lawsuits in other countries challenging the design of social media platforms and their potentially addictive features.
A spokesperson for Alphabet’s Google, which owns YouTube, said providing users with “a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work”, pointing to features such as “take a break” and bedtime reminders to help users manage their viewing habits.
“We’ll be assessing this case and responding in due course,” the spokesperson said.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok owner ByteDance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The lawsuits were filed by law firm Andersen Tax & Legal Iberia at Lisbon’s Civil Court between April and May but were disclosed only after the judicial summer break.
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D3 said the legal action seeks to hold the platforms accountable and compel them to provide a safer experience for users.
The group cited features including infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, persistent notifications and highly personalised recommendation systems.
D3 argued that by eliminating natural breaks in usage, continuously providing personalised content and repeatedly prompting users to return, the platforms create behavioural feedback loops similar to techniques used in the gambling industry.
“Platforms do not have to be hyper-addictive,” D3 President Ricardo Lafuente said.
“A healthy, productive and educational social media ecosystem is possible, but only if the rules are robust, properly enforced and directed at those who persist in ignoring them,” he said.
Social media platforms have faced increasing scrutiny from regulators and rights groups in Europe and the United States over their impact on users.
In February, TikTok faced charges under European Union rules over allegedly addictive features, while in August Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle claims in the United States related to social media addiction.
Data aggregated by SocialMediaTransparency.org showed that the four platforms had a combined reach of 33 million monthly users in Portugal during the first half of 2026.
