Dozens of states have filed lawsuits against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging that the tech giant deliberately designed its social media platforms to be addictive to children and teenagers. Attorneys general from states like California and Wisconsin filed the lawsuits in federal court, accusing Meta of intentionally turning kids into social media addicts for the purpose of boosting profits. The lawsuits claim that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents' consent, violating federal law. Features such as "infinite scroll" and constant streams of alerts are said to be contributing to the mental health crisis affecting young people.

The lawsuits come after failed settlement discussions with Meta, according to the Wall Street Journal. Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb stated, "Children are particularly susceptible to addictive technologies, and Meta has exploited these vulnerabilities, putting its quest for advertising revenue over the psychological and emotional well-being of young people." The states allege that Meta has falsely assured the public that its features were safe for young users, and that the company has repeatedly misled the public about the dangers of its social media platforms in order to maximize financial gains.

In response, Meta expressed disappointment with the attorneys general's decision to sue and stated that the company is determined to provide teens with safe and positive experiences online. Meta emphasized that it has already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families.

This issue gained significant attention in 2021 when former Meta employee Frances Haugen blew the whistle on internal company research, revealing data indicating that Instagram worsens suicidal thoughts and eating disorders in certain teenage girls. Haugen's testimony to Congress regarding these findings is noted in the lawsuits filed by the states.

Privacy concerns regarding the handling of children's personal information have also been raised, resulting in substantial fines against social media companies. Google-owned YouTube, for example, paid $170 million to settle claims that it illegally collected data from users under 13.

Meta is now facing lawsuits from more than three dozen states, with Colorado, Tennessee, and Massachusetts leading a joint lawsuit filed by 33 states. The lawsuits argue that Meta violated consumer protection laws by unfairly ensnaring children and deceiving users about the safety of its platforms. Additional lawsuits were also filed by the District of Columbia and eight other states.

The states claim that Meta's algorithms were specifically designed to push children and teenagers into rabbit holes of harmful content. Features like "infinite scroll" and persistent alerts were allegedly used to hook young users. The attorneys general also accuse Meta of violating federal privacy laws for children.

The joint lawsuit states, "Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens." In response, Meta maintains that it is working to provide a safer environment for teenagers on its apps and has introduced numerous tools to support teens and families.

This case is significant as it demonstrates a rare instance of multiple states joining forces to sue a tech giant for consumer harms. The coordination reflects the prioritization of children's online safety by states and their willingness to combine legal resources to take on Meta, similar to previous cases against Big Tobacco and Big Pharma companies.

Governments worldwide have been attempting to regulate platforms like Instagram and TikTok to protect children. Recent years have seen the introduction of laws in the UK, California, and Utah, requiring social media platforms to enhance privacy and safety protections for minors. Utah's law, for example, mandates that social media apps disable notifications by default for minors overnight to minimize disruptions to their sleep.

Regulators have also aimed to hold social media companies accountable for potential harms to young people. In 2020, a British coroner ruled that Instagram had played a role in the death of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to thousands of self-harm images on the platform.

The investigation into Instagram's impact on young people began several years ago as concerns over cyberbullying and teen mental health grew. In early 2021, Facebook's announcement of plans to develop “Instagram Kids” sparked backlash from lawmakers and children's groups. Attorneys general from over 40 states wrote a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accusing the company of failing to protect children on its platforms and urging it to abandon the Instagram Kids project.

Concerns heightened in September 2021 when former Facebook employee Frances Haugen leaked internal research indicating that the company was aware of the mental health risks its platforms posed to young people. Facebook subsequently paused the development of Instagram Kids. In November, a bipartisan group of attorneys general, including those from Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, launched a joint investigation into the impact and potential harm of Instagram on young people.

The attorneys general involved in the lawsuits are seeking financial penalties for Meta under local and state consumer protection laws. They are also requesting injunctive relief to force Meta to cease using certain tech features that they claim harm young users.