The lawsuit alleges that Facebook and Instagram's parent company knowingly used features that purposefully addicted children and teens, using algorithms to push users into descending "rabbit holes" in an effort to maximize engagement.
The attorneys general assert that Meta’s business practices violate state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens and have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis,” which has ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.
Meta designed features in Instagram and other apps to “purposefully addict children and teens,” a group of 42 state attorneys general alleged in federal and state lawsuits filed Tuesday. Asked for comment, a Meta spokesperson said in a statement, “We share the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have …
REUTERS/Yves Herman/File PhotoDozens of U.S. states filed suit against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over its alleged role in fueling the mental health crisis among children and teens. The states accused Meta of coaxing America’s youth into addictive social media usage and misleading the public about the dangers its platforms can pose, Reuters reported. The suit was filed in California federal court and seeks various damages, including significant civil penalties.