Release date: August 8, 2024
Art by Alexander Shatov via Unsplash Teens engage in meta debate about addictive technology
Movieguide® Contributor
A teenage girl is suing Instagram over “addictive” features that exposed her to harmful content.
The New York lawsuit by minors alleges that social media platforms use algorithms and technical designs focused on hooking users, knowing that excessive social media use is harmful to their mental health.
The girl, who goes by “AA,” also says she has been using the app since she was 10 years old, and claims Instagram did nothing to verify she was 13, the app's age requirement. Her lawsuit claims that she now “is unable to put down her phone” and is “overwhelmed with anxiety.”
“The United States has a blanket ban on minors from accessing addictive products such as tobacco and alcohol due to the physical and psychological damage they cause to minors. Social media is no exception, and Meta's documentation demonstrates that the company is aware of the harmful nature of its products,” the lawsuit states. “Yet Meta has made no effort to improve its social media products or restrict access to minors. In fact, it takes a child only a few minutes to sign up for Meta's harmful products, without the guidance or consent of a parent or guardian.”
The lawsuit goes on to allege that “Mehta's conduct has harmed Plaintiff and other children and will continue to harm them unless it is stopped.”
A Meta spokesperson said the company is working to provide safety guidelines for young people on its apps, from age verification and safety restriction tools to parental controls.
“These are complex issues, but we continue to collaborate with experts and listen to parents to develop new tools, features and policies that are effective and meet the needs of teens and their families,” the spokesperson said.
This lawsuit is not the only one of its kind: More than 40 states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits citing Meta's addictive features.
“We have a serious problem,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told PBS. “Meth was lying to people. They were misleading people about their platform. They were marketing to people under the age of 13 and failing to protect young people. That's why we're taking this important step.”
Weiser continued: “We know that young people are experiencing sleep deprivation, which is leading to poor mental health, eating disorders and even self-harm and suicide. They need to be held accountable on their platforms. We need to do more to protect young people.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the lawsuit against Meta.
Forty-one states and the District of Columbia are suing Meta, alleging that the technology contains addictive features that harm children's health.
“Our bipartisan investigation has reached a sobering conclusion: meth has harmed our children and teens and fueled addiction to boost corporate profits,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“America is facing a youth mental health crisis,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser added. “Young people have been led astray.”
Thirty-three states have filed a joint lawsuit against Mehta to hold the company accountable for its alleged business practices, and eight states and Washington, D.C., have filed individual complaints in federal, state or local courts.
The complaint alleges that Meta misled parents and children about safety features, permitted the illegal collection of children's data for profit, and violated children's privacy laws.
The lawsuits by state attorneys general come after the federal government has failed to put in place regulations that would prevent companies from prioritizing profits over user engagement and safety. The Biden administration has repeatedly said it wants to better regulate tech companies, but no concrete federal action has been taken yet.
State-led lawsuits, which seek to hold Meta accountable for the damage it has done to the mental health of millions of children, are the next best option.
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