States Sue Meta Platforms for Contributing to Teenage Mental Health Crisis
In a legal battle against Meta platforms, including Instagram, dozens of US states have filed a federal complaint, accusing the social media giant of fueling a teenage mental health crisis. The complaint, filed in Oakland, California, involves 33 states, including California and Illinois, who claim that Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the serious risks of its platforms and intentionally lured young children and teenagers into addictive and compulsive social media use.
The complaint states that Meta has utilized advanced technology to attract and entangle young users, all for financial gain. The states are seeking various remedies, including significant civil fines, in the court case.
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges brought against social media firms by kids and teens. Similar lawsuits have been filed against TikTok and YouTube, owned by ByteDance and Google, respectively.
The states allege that Meta intentionally designed its Facebook and Instagram products to encourage young users to spend prolonged periods on the platforms. The creation of algorithms, frequent warnings and notifications, and features like “infinite scroll” through platform feeds are all cited as tactics employed by Meta to keep young users engaged. The tech giant is also accused of promoting social comparison and bodily dysmorphia through “likes” and picture filters, which negatively impact teenagers’ mental health.
Furthermore, the complaint claims that Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data on users under the age of 13 without parental consent. The states are demanding that Meta ceases its harmful activities and compensates underage users for the damage caused.
In response to the complaint, Meta defended its efforts to ensure the safety of young people online. The company spokesperson, Liza Crenshaw, expressed disappointment that instead of collaborating with industry companies to establish clear, age-appropriate standards, the attorneys general have chosen litigation.
The notoriety of the lawsuit against Meta has been heightened by the 2021 leak of internal documents. These papers revealed that Meta had evidence confirming the addictiveness of Instagram and its detrimental effects on the body image of certain young girls. Despite being aware of these issues, the complaint alleges that Meta deliberately downplayed and concealed the negative consequences of its social media platforms.
This legal action against Meta comes at a time when research into the correlation between social media use and mental health disorders is ongoing. State governments have taken an active role in addressing the concerns associated with children’s social media usage, even with some studies highlighting potential consequences.
Since there is no federal law on the subject, states have been at the forefront of implementing policies to protect underage users. Several governments have banned children under 13 from accessing social media and have required parental consent for teenagers under 18. Some US states, including California, have passed legislation mandating that digital companies assess the risks associated with their products and implement safety and privacy measures.
The battle between the states and Meta highlights the growing concern over the impact of social media on mental health. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will rule and what consequences this case will have for the regulation of social media platforms.
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