Meta Sued by Dozens of U.S. States for Harming Mental Health of Youth
The suit accuses Meta of purposefully creating features that addict children to its platforms.
- A large number of states in the U.S. have initiated a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. for harming the mental health of the country’s youth.
- The lawsuit claims that Meta collects data on children under 13 years of age without the consent of parents, violating federal regulations.
Dozens of U.S. states have sued Meta for deliberately using addictive features on Instagram and Facebook to attract children to their platforms. The complaint alleges that the company has developed psychologically manipulative features to support compulsive long-term use of its platforms, which often contain content that is harmful to mental health. The states also sued Meta for violating federal privacy laws, accusing the company of illegally collecting young users’ data without their parents’ consent to improve profits.
Meta has responded to the lawsuit, stating that the company was working to create a better environment for young people and that it had created specific tools to support its youngest users and their parents. The company also expressed its disappointment in the attorneys general for choosing to initiate a lawsuit instead of choosing to collaborate.
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States in the U.S. have been voicing their concerns over the effect of platforms such as Instagram on children, owing to cases of cyberbullying and growing awareness about mental health. However, this concern mounted significantly after Facebook announced in early 2021 the development of a kids’ version of Instagram, which led to notable backlash.
Concerns among the attorneys general rose even further in September 2021 after a leak from a former company employee indicated that the company was aware of mental health risks to children from using their platforms. A group of attorneys general are also investigating TikTok in a similar case.
All states are seeking financial penalties from Meta and directives to the company to cease the use of specific tech features that create the highest risk of harm. Meta is expected to ask for a dismissal of the case. It has already filed a motion of dismissal toward a similar case that consumers have filed.
This could be a significant move by lawmakers to control platforms like Instagram and Facebook in a way that mirrors cases by government entities against industries such as Big Pharma and Big Tobacco. Whether they succeed against Big Tech remains to be seen.
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