OAKLAND: Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing legal action as 33 US states, including California and Illinois, have filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of contributing to a youth mental health crisis.
The complaint, filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, alleges that Meta knowingly induced young children and teenagers into addictive and compulsive social media use, leading to negative outcomes such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and interference with education and daily life.
The lawsuit claims that Meta has misled the public about the substantial dangers of its platforms and has intentionally designed its platforms to manipulate dopamine responses in young users, creating an addictive cycle of engagement. Meta is accused of maximizing the time spent on its platforms by exploiting the need for approval, particularly through the use of “likes” on social media content. The company is also alleged to have violated a law banning the collection of data of children under the age of 13.
Legal Action Against Meta
The legal action seeks various remedies, including substantial civil penalties. The lawsuit is part of a series of legal challenges against social media companies concerning the impact of their platforms on the mental health and well-being of children and teenagers. Other platforms like TikTok and YouTube have also faced similar lawsuits regarding the addictiveness of social media.
Meta responded to the allegations by expressing disappointment and stating that the company has aimed to make young people safe online. The tech giant emphasized its efforts to work with the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for apps used by teenagers.
