Meta platforms, including Instagram, are facing lawsuits from several US states for their alleged contribution to a teenage mental health crisis through their addictive social media platforms. In a federal complaint filed in Oakland, California, 33 states, including California and Illinois, have accused Meta, the operator of Facebook, of misleading the public about the serious risks associated with their platforms and intentionally enticing young children and teens into addictive social media use.
According to the complaint, Meta has used sophisticated technology to attract and entangle children and teenagers for financial gain. The states are seeking significant civil fines and other remedies in the court case.
This lawsuit against Meta is the latest in a series of legal challenges brought by kids and teens against social media companies. Other platforms such as TikTok and YouTube have also faced lawsuits due to the perceived addictiveness of their platforms.
The states argue that Meta intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to entice young users to spend extended periods on their sites. The lawsuit claims that Meta’s algorithms, frequent warnings and notifications, and features like “infinite scroll” through platform feeds have contributed to this. The tech giant is also accused of causing harm to teens’ mental health by fostering social comparison and bodily dysmorphia through features such as “likes” and picture filters.
Furthermore, the federal lawsuit accuses Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data on children under 13 without parental consent. The states are demanding that Meta cease these harmful activities and compensate underage users for the damage caused.
In response to the complaint, Meta stated that they have taken measures to ensure the safety of young people online. Company spokesperson Liza Crenshaw expressed disappointment that the attorneys general had chosen litigation instead of working with industry companies to establish clear, age-appropriate standards for apps used by teenagers.
The litigation against Meta has gained more attention due to the leak of internal papers in 2021. These documents revealed that Meta was aware of the addictive nature of Instagram and its negative impact on the body image of young girls. Despite this knowledge, the complaint alleges that Meta intentionally downplayed and concealed the negative consequences of their social media platforms.
This lawsuit comes at a time when research continues to shed light on the relationship between social media use and mental health disorders. State governments have been actively addressing concerns related to children’s social media usage, with some states implementing policies to protect underage users. For example, several states have banned children under 13 from using social media and required parental consent for teenagers under 18. California has also passed legislation mandating digital companies to assess the risks associated with their products and implement safety and privacy protections.
It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold, but it is clear that the impact of social media on mental health has become a significant concern for regulators and the public alike.
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