Facebook and Instagram harm young people’s mental health and collect data on children under the age of 13.
33 U.S. states have sued Meta, the global social media company that operates Facebook and Instagram. The plaintiffs argue that Meta’s social networking services adversely affect young people’s mental health.
The attorneys general of 33 U.S. states filed a lawsuit against Meta in a federal court in Oakland on the 24th (local time). The lawsuit involves states like California and Illinois. The claim that Meta has intentionally encouraged children and teenagers to use social media in an addictive and compulsive manner.
The attorneys general of the 33 states said in their complaint, “Meta has used powerful and unprecedented technology to lure and engage children and teenagers, ultimately trapping them.” Also added, “Their motive is profit.”
They explained that Meta made teenagers spend as much time as possible on social media, knowing that their brains are vulnerable to ‘likes’ – the reactions of others to content. They added that Meta knew this fact but intentionally deceived and denied it.
Meta confirmed through research in 2021 that 13.5% of teenage girls feel suicidal urges due to Instagram, and 17% have worsened eating disorders.
Attorneys general from nine more states plan to file lawsuits, potentially increasing the scale of the class-action lawsuit. If these states join, the lawsuit against Meta will involve 42 states.
The plaintiffs demanded civil penalties against Meta and remedies for child and teenage users.
Meta responded, “We have already introduced more than 30 tools to support teenagers and their families,” expressing disappointment that the attorneys general chose this path instead of dialogue and cooperation to create clear and age-appropriate standards for many apps teenagers use.
By. Hong Sung Il
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