States sue Meta, claiming Instagram, Facebook fueled youth mental health crisis

Abstract

A group of more than 40 states sued Meta last month, accusing the social media giant of designing products that are deliberately addictive and fuel the youth mental health crisis, National Public Radio reported on Oct. 24. The legal actions allege that Meta has deceived the public about the harms of Facebook and Instagram, which the states' attorneys general said “exploit and manipulate” children. Other attorneys general, including those representing Tennessee and Washington, D.C., filed similar legal actions on Oct. 24 in state courts. Collectively, more than 40 states painted a picture of a company that brushed aside safety concerns about its products in order to addict as many young people as possible as a way of juicing its profits. The authorities said Meta's “dopamine‐manipulating” features have poisoned an entire generation's mental health, citing a recommendation algorithm that determines what people see when they log onto Instagram and Facebook, the ability to “like” posts and to scroll without limits. The lawsuits are seeking to have Meta's design features considered unlawful under state consumer protection laws that trigger hefty financial penalties.