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A group of 41 states and the District of Columbia have taken legal action against Meta, alleging that the tech giant is hooking children to its platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger, leading them to harmful content. Led by Colorado and California, the joint lawsuit was filed by 33 states in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with eight other states and the District of Columbia filing separate suits the same day. The lawsuits claim that Meta has violated consumer protection laws with deceptive practices and has purposely targeted young people to get them addicted to its platforms.
Accusations against Meta
The lawsuits accuse Meta of intentionally targeting users under the age of 13, in violation of both company policies and federal law. The company is also accused of breaching the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by unlawfully collecting personal data from its youngest users without consent. Additionally, Meta is criticized for downplaying or denying the negative effects of its platforms on young users, with the complaint stating that the company prioritizes profit over the well-being of children.
Big Tech under scrutiny
Colorado’s Attorney General compared Meta to Big Tobacco and vaping companies, emphasizing the harm it causes to young people. The lawsuit is the result of a nationwide investigation into Instagram’s impact on young consumers, with multiple states examining the physical and mental health consequences of its usage. This legal action against Meta is part of a broader crackdown on Big Tech companies that target younger consumers, as seen with Utah’s lawsuit against TikTok for similar reasons.
It’s clear that Big Tech is facing increasing legal scrutiny for its influence on younger users, and the actions taken by states against Meta and other companies highlight the growing concerns about the impact of social media platforms on children and teens.
