Dozens of states have filed lawsuits against Meta, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over the safety of its young users.
“Meta unlawfully misled the public about the harm that its products, such as Facebook and Instagram, could cause to children and youth,” says the lawsuit filed in federal court in California.
The indictment alleges that Meta exacerbated the mental health crisis among young people by implementing a business model designed to maximize time spent on the platform.
“Over the past decade, Meta has profoundly changed the psychological and social realities of a generation of young Americans,” the lawsuit says.
The complaint alleges that Meta intentionally challenged platform features and incentives that encouraged harmful behavior among young users, including allowing likes on posts and failing to remove content related to eating disorders and bullying.
Meta denies the allegations. “We share the Attorney General’s commitment to providing safe and positive experiences for youth and have provided more than 30 tools to support youth and their families,” spokeswoman Lisa Crenshaw responded in a statement.
“We are disappointed that plaintiffs chose this path rather than working effectively with companies to develop clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use,” she added.
In 2021, Meta was criticized by lawmakers and civil society over the impact of its products on youth safety following leaks by whistleblower Frances Hogan.
One of the leaks cited an internal Facebook study that found that Instagram was hurting the confidence of younger users and that affected users were unable to stay away from the platform.
The indictment cites Haugen's leaks as part of the case against Meta. “The company used unprecedented technology to attract, engage, and ensnare young people, and concealed how these platforms exploited and manipulated vulnerable consumers, namely teens and children,” the lawsuit says. Meta ignores the impact these platforms have on our country's youth. Serious harm to physical or mental health. "
Lawmakers have pointed to the company, its products and other social media platforms as one of the driving forces behind the ongoing mental health crisis among young people in the United States.
In response, senators introduced the Children's Internet Safety Act, which aims to protect children from viewing harmful content online, and civil rights experts have raised concerns about its impact on free speech.