The cases allege that social media platforms intentionally incorporated addictive design features that harmed children and teenagers. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed appeals brought by the technology companies after concluding they were premature. The lawsuits have been consolidated in federal court in California and include claims from individuals, school districts, state governments and local authorities. Instead, it means the litigation can continue in the lower court before the companies potentially raise their Section 230 arguments again later. The appeals court did not resolve the wider question of how Section 230 applies to the design claims.