Meta is accused of using addictive features to hook and exploit children on Instagram and Facebook, according to a new lawsuit.
A group of more than 30 US states joined the legal complaint, which alleges that Meta is exacerbating the youth mental health crisis. The legal action likens the company’s use of addictive features – such as an algorithmic feed – to slot machines, which manipulate “dopamine releases” in children to keep them coming back.
Meta has shrugged off safety concerns about its platforms in an attempt to “ensnare” users from a young age to boost profits, the states claim. They accuse Meta of trying to turn teens and kids into lifelong customers who can be more easily swayed by advertisements.
In 2021 a Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, exposed a trove of internal documents that allegedly revealed a culture of neglect at the firm. The files appeared to show senior employees ignoring the site’s harmful impact on young girls and teens, and researching ways to attract children aged 10 to 12 years old.
Facebook responded by saying: “At the heart of these stories is a premise which is false. Yes, we’re a business and we make profit, but the idea that we do so at the expense of people’s safety or wellbeing misunderstands where our own commercial interests lie. The truth is we’ve invested $13bn and have over 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on Facebook.”
Facebook changed its name to Meta in 2021 to draw attention to its full suite of products, including virtual reality and AI. The current minimum age limit for Meta’s services is 13.
The company previously paused plans for an Instagram for Kids app because of concerns about child safety, although it offers a Messenger for Kids app with strict parental oversight and no advertisements.
However, it seems that the states were incensed by Meta’s recent decision to allow teens in the US to use its virtual reality social network. Despite repeated warnings, Meta continues to court younger users, the lawsuit claims.
In the US, federal privacy law forbids data collection on children under 13. Many tech companies have faced legal or regulatory challenges on how kids use their platforms, including TikTok and YouTube.
Companies typically seek protection from the lawsuits by citing a US law, known as Section 230, that says they are immune from being held legally responsible for content generated by users.
Social media has frequently been described as bad for people’s mental wellbeing, and particularly harmful for children.
The lawsuit refers to research that has shown young people’s use of Meta’s platforms is associated with depression, anxiety, insomnia, interference with education and daily life, and many other negative outcomes.
Earlier this year, the US surgeon general – described as the nation’s doctor – warned that social media can pose a “profound risk of harm” to the mental health of children and teens.
By contrast, a recent study by the University of Oxford found no evidence linking Facebook use to negative wellbeing among general users aged 13 and above.
A spokesperson for Meta said the company shared the commitment of the attorneys general to "providing teens with safe, positive experiences online" and had "already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families".
"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 spokesperson added.
Meta has introduced new controls on Instagram aimed at safeguarding young people, including a do not disturb mode that pauses notifications. The features were announced after a landmark ruling concluded that the social media content viewed by British teen Molly Russell had contributed to her death by suicide.
