Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a wave of lawsuits from multiple U.S. states, alleging that its social media platforms are addictive and harmful to young users’ health and well-being.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that 33 states have filed a federal lawsuit against Meta in the Northern District of California. The lawsuit accuses Meta of deliberately designing its social media platforms to be addictive to children and young adults.
Additionally, nine other states have filed lawsuits in their respective state courts. The federal lawsuit includes California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin, in addition to New York.
This is not the first time Meta has faced legal troubles. In 2020, 48 states and territories sued the company over antitrust concerns. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also filed a separate complaint, alleging that Meta used algorithms to create an endless scroll of content and keep users, especially younger ones, engaged and returning for more.
Interactive features on Facebook and Instagram, such as likes and photo filters, are also believed to have a negative impact on the mental health of young people. The federal lawsuit further alleges that Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal data from users under the age of 13 without parental consent.
Meta responded by stating that it has developed online safety tools for teenagers, but it is disappointed that the states chose to pursue litigation instead of collaborating to establish clear standards for young users’ online engagement.
In 2021, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen revealed internal Meta documents indicating that 32% of teenage girls felt worse about their bodies after using Instagram.
Meta has also introduced over 30 features to support young people and their families in having safer and more positive online experiences.
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