Dozens of US states have filed a lawsuit accusing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of profiting from children's pain, harming their mental health, and providing misleading

information about the safety of its social media platforms. The joint lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, involves over 40 states, though some filed their cases in local courts instead of participating in the federal case. The legal filing claims that Meta has exploited young users by designing its business model to maximize their platform usage, despite detrimental effects on their health.

The lawsuit asserts that young people, particularly children and teenagers, are experiencing record levels of poor mental health, and social media companies like Meta are at fault. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, "Meta has profited from children's pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem." The suit alleges that Meta has engaged in deceptive and unlawful conduct to profit from vulnerable youth.

The plaintiffs are requesting that the federal court orders Meta to cease its manipulative tactics, impose substantial financial penalties, and provide restitution. Attorney General James emphasized that social media companies, including Meta, have played a role in a national youth mental health crisis and should be held accountable for their actions.

Meta expressed its disappointment with the lawsuit and mentioned that the states are not cooperating with various social media companies to establish age-appropriate standards. The company claimed to have developed more than 30 tools within its apps to support teenage users and facilitate parental control over online activity.

Meta also argued that it is disheartening that state attorneys general have singled out Meta while not seeking industry-wide solutions. The company highlighted the popularity of competitors such as TikTok, YouTube, and Snap. Additionally, Meta maintained that social media can serve as a platform where young people facing various challenges in their lives seek support and community.

The legal complaints resulted from a nationwide investigation launched in November 2021, prompted by whistleblower Frances Haugen, who exposed over 20,000 pages of internal documents indicating that the social media giant prioritized profit over user security. California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the findings of the bipartisan investigation, stating that "Meta has been harming our children and teens, cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits." The legal action is an attempt to draw a line and hold the company accountable.

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, faced criticism related to its handling of toxic content and user safety. The company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, defended its actions, refuting the idea that they promoted harmful content for profit, deeming it "deeply illogical." Photo by Nokia621, Wikimedia commons.