More than 40 states have filed lawsuits against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, accusing the tech giant of deliberately designing addictive products that contribute to the youth mental health crisis. The legal actions allege that Meta has misled the public about the negative effects of its platforms, which the attorneys general argue exploit and manipulate children.
The litigation against Meta has drawn comparisons to the lawsuits filed against the tobacco industry in the 1990s, which resulted in new marketing restrictions. Experts hope that these lawsuits will prompt Meta to introduce similar changes. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor, expressed her desire for social media to eventually be seen as we currently view smoking, with youth engagement being frowned upon.
The federal lawsuit, joined by more than 30 states including New York, Arizona, and West Virginia, alleges that Meta’s features, such as recommendation algorithms and the ability to like posts and scroll limitlessly, manipulate users’ dopamine levels and have had a detrimental impact on an entire generation’s mental health.
The attorneys general are seeking to have Meta’s design features deemed unlawful under state consumer protection laws, which could lead to substantial financial penalties. Additionally, they are urging the courts to compel the company to make drastic changes to Facebook and Instagram in order to improve the safety of young users.
It is worth noting that social media companies have historically been shielded from legal responsibility for user-generated content by Section 230, a law that has protected the tech industry. However, the prosecutors have carefully crafted their lawsuits to focus on violations of consumer protection and child safety laws, rather than specific pieces of content, in an attempt to circumvent this defense.
While Meta is expected to invoke Section 230 as part of its defense, legal experts believe the outcome is uncertain. Some courts have allowed similar cases to proceed despite Section 230, while others have dismissed lawsuits due to the law’s strong legal protection.
In response to the lawsuits, a spokesperson for Meta stated that the company shares the states’ commitment to providing a safe online experience for teenagers. They emphasized that Meta has already implemented various features to support young users and their families. The legal battles come after a Wall Street Journal investigation in 2021 revealed that Meta was aware of the harmful impact of Instagram on the mental health of teenagers, particularly teenage girls.
The relationship between social media and mental health has sparked considerable debate. Jean Twenge, who has conducted extensive research on teens nationwide, points to a doubling of teen depression between 2011 and 2021, correlating with increased social media usage. Twenge argues that social media is a key driver behind the mental health crisis faced by adolescents.
These lawsuits against Meta reflect the growing concern about the influence and impact of social media platforms on young people’s well-being. As the legal battles unfold, many hope that they will lead to meaningful changes in how these platforms operate and protect their users, particularly vulnerable teenagers.
