They claim Facebook and Instagram apps are harming ‘young people’s mental and physical health’
American tech giant Meta is again in the crosshairs of justice, as more than 40 US states filed a lawsuit against it, accusing its Facebook and Instagram apps of harming “the mental and physical health of young people.”
“Meta exploits its powerful and unprecedented technologies to attract (…) and ultimately trap youth and teenagers in order to make a profit,” state attorneys general said in their complaint filed in a California court. States, Democratic and Republican, estimate that the company “concealed the way its platforms exploit and manipulate the most vulnerable consumers” and “neglected the serious damage” they cause “to the mental and physical health of our country’s youth” .
Meta, for its part, said it was “disappointed that the attorneys general chose this path, instead of working constructively with companies in the field to create clear age-appropriate rules for the many apps that teenagers use”. “We share the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe and positive online experiences, and we’ve already adopted more than 30 tools to support teens and their families,” added a company spokesperson.
“Without limit”
The US mobilized in the fall of 2021 when a former Facebook employee exposed the practices of the platform. Frances Haugen leaked more than 20,000 pages of internal documents that showed the company was putting profits before the safety of its users.
Meta has since tried to appease authorities, adding tools to help parents monitor their children’s activities or encourage youngsters to take a break from the platform. However, Meta is worried about losing users to TikTok, a particularly popular app among young people. For this reason Instagram copied the video format of its rival and created Reels.
According to the lawsuit, both Facebook and Instagram are designed to “manipulate young users into using the platforms in a prolonged and compulsive manner.” Prosecutors also accuse Meta of lying, claiming its products are safe and tailored for teenagers, and violating laws protecting children’s personal data.
Up to 95% of young Americans between the ages of 13 and 17 say they use a social networking site, with one-third using it “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.
“National Crisis”
In May Vivek Murphy, the US Chief Medical Officer, warned of the “extremely harmful effects” that social media can have, saying it is playing a major role in the “national youth mental health crisis”. In his report, he specifically referred to research showing a link between the use of these media and the appearance of depressive symptoms, especially in girls, who are more vulnerable to online harassment and eating disorders.
Congress has been unable for years to agree on a legal framework for the tech giants, prompting local officials, associations and families to mobilize. In the spring, Arkansas and Utah passed laws requiring social media sites to obtain parental approval before giving access to their platforms to minors.
“With our filing today, we set a red line that cannot be crossed,” California Attorney General Rob Bonda said yesterday. “We must protect our children and we will not back down in this battle.” The States are asking the court to compel Meta to end these practices and seek damages.
