In a significant legal development, a coalition of 34 U.S. states has launched a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, claiming that the platforms are improperly influencing and potentially harming young users.
The suit, spanning over 200 pages, asserts that Meta, through its flagship platforms, has wielded cutting-edge technologies to captivate and engage young individuals, fundamentally altering their psychological and social experiences. The coalition, which includes states like California, New York, and Ohio, contends that Meta’s algorithms promote compulsive usage and negatively impact children’s mental health, pointing specifically to features like the notorious “Like” button.
“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” reads the legal filing.
Meta, in response, emphasized its shared concerns about creating safe and positive experiences for young users. A spokesperson highlighted that the company has already introduced more than 30 tools to support teenagers and their families. Expressing disappointment with the legal action, the spokesperson remarked, “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.”
The tech giant countered the allegations by asserting that research on the negative impact of social media is inconclusive, challenging the notion that it directly causes mental health issues among teenagers. They also pointed out that users have the option to hide like counts, offering a level of control over their online experience.
Meta outlined several measures it has taken to foster a secure environment for teenagers, including age verification, automatic privacy settings for teens’ accounts, and automated interventions to prevent suspicious adult interactions. Additionally, the platform prohibits content that promotes self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders.
This legal battle underscores the growing concerns surrounding the impact of social media on the younger generation and raises critical questions about the responsibility of tech companies in shaping the online experiences of children and adolescents. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the industry and set new precedents for safeguarding the well-being of young users.
Source: Decrypt
