Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been taken to court by dozens of US states over allegations that it poses risks to the mental health of young users and misleads the public regarding the use of its social networking products.
The lawsuit, supported by the attorneys general of 33 states, was filed in California on Tuesday. It accuses Meta of violating the federal law — Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act — by collecting data on children aged under 13 without obtaining consent from their parents. The complaint says Meta deliberately designs “addictive” features on Facebook and Instagram that pull in children and fuel the “youth mental health crisis”.
“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” the lawsuit states. “Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains.” The complaint adds Meta has repeatedly misled people about the dangers of its social media platforms and further accuses it of exploiting and manipulating teenagers and children, and concealing such practices.
In response to the legal action, Meta expressed disappointment and said the company is “providing teens with safe, positive experiences online”. It also highlighted its child safety tools to support underage users and their families.
“We’re disappointed that 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,” a spokesperson said.
Separate lawsuits against Meta will also be filed in another nine other states, bringing the total number of US states versus Meta to 41. The lawsuit seeks financial damages and is aimed at dismantling Meta’s practices that violate federal laws.
The allegations levelled against Meta in the lawsuit echo the revelations former Meta employee turned whistleblower Frances Haugen made regarding the firm’s questionable business practices. Haugen’s disclosures were published by leading media outlets around the world and eventually led to a congressional hearing in the US, where she testified before the lawmakers that Meta knew its products could harm underage users, but continued its detrimental practices regardless.
Meta, along with other leading social media platforms such as TikTok, is already facing an array of lawsuits on similar allegations. The company, however, has repeatedly rejected claims that Instagram is harmful to children.
