LOS ANGELES: Dozens of US states are suing Meta Platforms and its Instagram unit, accusing them of fuelling a youth mental health crisis by making their social media platforms addictive.
In a complaint filed at a court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, 33 states including California and New York said Meta repeatedly misled the public about the dangers of its platforms, and knowingly induced young children and teenagers into addictive and compulsive social media use. Meta also operates Facebook.
“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” the complaint said. “Its motive is profit.”
Children have long been an appealing demographic for big business in the hope of attracting them as consumers at a young age when they may be more impressionable and solidifying brand loyalty. For Meta, younger consumers may help secure more advertisers who hope kids will buy their products as they grow up.
But the states noted research has associated children’s use of Meta’s social media platforms with “depression, anxiety, insomnia, interference with education and daily life, and many other negative outcomes.”
Meta said it was “disappointed” in the lawsuit.
“Instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path,” the company said.
Eight other US states and Washington filed similar lawsuits against Meta on Tuesday, bringing the total number of authorities taking action against the California-based company to 42.
Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2023
