- States sue Meta: Misleading, harmful.
- Violations of consumer laws.
- Meta’s response, youth impact.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been accused of contributing to an adolescent mental health crisis and misleading the public about the risks of social media use.
Dozens of U.S. states filed a federal lawsuit in which the allegations were lodged.
Claiming to “ensnare” users while concealing the “substantial dangers” of its platforms, the organisation allegedly employed addictive features.
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“Disappointed” was the comment made by Meta.
According to the lawsuit, Meta violated consumer protection laws through “deceptive” conduct.
It also alleged the organisation violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting data on under-13s.
Social media companies, including Meta, have contributed to a national youth mental health crisis and must be held accountable,” one of 33 attorneys general who signed the lawsuit stated, New York Attorney General Letitia James.
In litigation, nine additional states also asserted comparable claims.
Meta’s Response and Initiatives
Meta, the attorneys general’s partner in “providing teens with safe, positive online experiences,” “has already introduced over thirty tools to support teens and their families,” according to a spokesperson for the organisation.
The spokesperson further stated, “We are dismayed that the attorneys general have chosen this path rather than collaborating with industry companies to develop clear, age-appropriate standards for the numerous apps used by teens.”
Hundreds of US families, schools, and youth organisations have sued Meta and other social media corporations for mental health harm.
This is the most significant action to date.
Several state prosecutors launched an investigation into the company’s practises in 2021, in response to the testimony of a whistleblower in the United States, Frances Haugen, who claimed the company was aware that its products could cause injury to children.
Meta disputes that Instagram is detrimental to the mental health of young people.
“The claim that this research proves Instagram is “toxic” for adolescent girls is categorically unfounded,” stated Pratiti Raychoudhury, vice president and director of research at Meta, at the time.
Specific Claims and Concerns
Ms. Raychoudhury stated that the research revealed that many adolescents from whom we heard believe that Instagram assists them when confronted with the types of difficult situations and challenges that have always befallen adolescents.
Several studies provide evidence that the expansion of Facebook is not associated with psychological damage.
However, extensive data suggests that extended social media use can harm teenage mental health.
The UK coroner said that Molly Russell died from the “detrimental consequences of online material.
In addition to monetary damages, the states demand an end to Meta’s purportedly detrimental activities.
Significant portions of the lawsuit have been redacted for public access. However, it identifies features including likes, alerts, and filters that are “known to promote body dysmorphia among young users.” Body dysmorphia causes a person to obsess over physical flaws that others may not notice.
“Meta’s design choices and practises take advantage of and contribute to young users’ susceptibility to addiction,” according to the lawsuit.
