42 attorneys general sue Meta, claiming that Instagram and Facebook harm children's mental health
On October 24, 2023, attorneys general from 41 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the company was harming children by adding addictive features to Instagram and Facebook.
AG Henry Joins Lawsuit Against Meta for Endangering Kids' Mental Health with Addictive, Harmful Content – PA Office of Attorney General
States sue Meta, claiming Instagram, Facebook are addictive, harm kids - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/10/24/meta-lawsuit-facebook-instagram-children-mental-health/
41 states sue Meta for apparently addicting kids to Facebook and Instagram | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/10/41-states-sue-meta-for-allegedly-addicting-kids-to-facebook-and-instagram/
The lawsuit stems from a September 2019 whistleblower who alleged that Meta, then known as Facebook, had continued to provide its social networking service despite being aware that it was harmful to young people. Following the disclosure of the 'Facebook Documents,' the U.S. Congress launched an investigation into Meta.
Congress launches new investigation into Facebook for hiding the fact that Instagram is harmful to teen mental health - GIGAZINE
Then, on October 24, 2023, a coalition of state attorneys general, which had been investigating Meta since November 2021, filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that it was harming children by incorporating addictive features into Instagram and Facebook.
Thirty-three state attorneys general filed a joint lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and attorneys general from eight states and the District of Columbia filed separate lawsuits, bringing the total number of attorneys general suing Meta to 42.
The lawsuit, an unprecedented legal action brought by 42 attorneys general from all 50 states and one district, highlights the serious impact social media has on children's mental health.
The 233-page complaint alleges that Meta engaged in a 'scheme to exploit young people for profit' by misleading young people about safety features and the prevalence of harmful content, while collecting their data and violating children's privacy laws. The attorneys general also alleged that Meta knowingly left changes on the social networking site that harmed children's health and violated consumer protection laws.
'Our bipartisan investigation has reached a solemn conclusion: Meta is harming our children and teenagers and promoting addiction in pursuit of corporate profits,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta, one of the officials leading the lawsuit, said in a statement.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, who also sued Meta separately, also accused the company of placing an 'undue burden' on the school system, alleging that the state's schools had been forced to increase mental health spending to address the 'mental and physical health harms that Meta has caused to young people.'
'Meta preyed on young people, deliberately targeting their vulnerabilities and choosing to exploit them to its advantage. In doing so, Meta is significantly contributing to the ongoing mental health crisis among children and teenagers,' Campbell said.
Meta spokesperson Liza Crenshaw said, 'We regret that the Attorney General has chosen this path instead of working productively with companies across the industry to establish clear age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use.'
Besides Meta, Arkansas, Indiana, and Utah have also sued TikTok , and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Scrummetti told The Washington Post that investigations into other tech companies are underway.
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• Discord | 'When do you feel like you don't want your kids to use social media?' | GIGAZINE
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in Education, Web Service, Posted by log1l_ks