Dozens of US states are suing the Meta platform and social network Instagram, accusing them of contributing to a youth health crisis due to the addictive nature of social media platforms, according to The Guardian .
In a complaint filed in federal court in Oakland, California, 33 states, including California and Illinois, said Meta repeatedly misled users about the significant dangers of its platforms and intentionally addicted and forced children and teenagers to use social media.
The lawsuit says Meta has exploited powerful and unprecedented technologies to lure, engage, and ultimately entrap young people and teens for profit. The lawsuit seeks multiple remedies.
In total, 42 US states will sue Meta.
Meta, for its part, says it seeks to keep teens safe online. In an emailed statement, the company expressed disappointment that states have chosen the path of litigation instead of working with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens choose.
Much of the focus on Meta stems from the release of a document in 2021 that said it had data showing that Instagram — originally a photo-sharing app — was addictive and exacerbated body image issues for young girls.
The number of 33 states filing lawsuits is certainly not going to stop as another 9 states are expected to file next week, bringing the total number of states filing lawsuits to 42.
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The lawsuit alleges that Meta tries to get young people to spend as much time as possible on social media, knowing that teenage brains are highly sensitive to the need for other users to “like” its content. The lawsuit says Meta has publicly denied that its social media is harmful.
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