Meta Sued: Lawsuits against Meta and Instagram, Impact on Kids’ Mental Health
Meta Sued: Lawsuits against Meta and Instagram

Meta Sued: A coalition of 33 states, led by California and New York, has taken legal action against Meta Platforms and its subsidiary Instagram. The lawsuit accuses these social media giants of harming children’s mental health by exploiting them for profit and exposing them to harmful content, leading to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Meta Sued: Allegations against Meta and Instagram

Meta Sued: The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oakland, California, alleges that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has used sophisticated technologies to target and engage young users, ultimately trapping them into addictive and compulsive social media use. Some of the specific allegations in the lawsuit include.

• Misleading the Public: The states claim that Meta has consistently misled the public about the risks associated with its platforms, knowingly inducing young children and teenagers into addictive social media use to boost corporate profits.
• Whistleblower Revelations: The lawsuit draws heavily from the revelations of former Meta employee Frances Haugen, who emerged as a whistleblower in 2021. Haugen leaked internal documents that revealed Meta’s knowledge of Instagram’s addictive nature and its negative impact on the body image of some teen girls.
• Targeting Children as a Demographic: States argue that Meta has targeted children as a lucrative demographic, hoping to turn them into lifelong consumers and advertisers. However, research suggests that children’s use of Meta’s social media platforms is linked to adverse outcomes, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and interference with education and daily life.
• Violation of Data Collection Laws: The lawsuit also alleges that Meta violated laws prohibiting data collection from children under 13 years old without parental consent, claiming that the company collected personal information from underage users without authorization.
• Responsibility for Harmful Content: Meta has been accused of distancing itself from the suicide of a 14-year-old girl in the U.K. in 2017 who had been exposed to harmful content on Instagram. A coroner rejected Meta’s claim that such content was “safe” for children, highlighting its role in the tragic incident.
• Expansion of Harmful Practices: The lawsuit suggests that Meta is attempting to expand its harmful practices into virtual reality, including its Horizon Worlds platform, WhatsApp, and Messenger apps.

Meta Sued: Legal Actions and Penalties

The 33 states seek to stop Meta from engaging in deceptive practices. They are pushing for civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 for each violation of various state laws. These penalties could accumulate quickly due to many young Instagram users.

Broader Legal Landscape

It’s worth noting that this lawsuit is not the only legal action Meta faces over its impact on children’s mental health. Eight other states and Washington, D.C., are filing similar lawsuits, bringing the number of authorities taking action against the company to 42. Additionally, Meta is facing hundreds of lawsuits filed on behalf of children and school districts by other social media companies, including Snap, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube, alleging responsibility for causing mental health issues among young users addicted to social media.

Meta Pushes Back 

Meta Sued: In response to the litigation, Meta critiqued the coalition for not collaborating with the industry to set clear teen social media use standards. However, many child health experts counter that self-regulation has failed, necessitating decisive government intervention.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has staunchly rejected accusations that Meta puts profits before user safety. But evidence uncovered by journalists, researchers, and Congress suggests otherwise. With its pivot to younger demographics, immersive metaverse technologies, and growth-obsessed culture, Meta shows few signs of voluntary reform.

The burgeoning youth mental health crisis demands accountability from powerful social media corporations. While the legal proceedings could take years to resolve, the lawsuits represent an important stand against Big Tech’s unchecked influence. The outcome could change how platforms operate, especially regarding society’s most vulnerable.

The Impact of Whistleblower Revelations

Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser emphasized that Frances Haugen’s revelations indicate Meta’s awareness of how their platforms were harming children, stressing the role of social media platforms in driving mental health and physical health issues.

These legal actions against Meta and Instagram highlight the growing concern over the impact of social media on children’s well-being and the need for clearer standards and regulations in the industry.

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