Instagram Accused by States of Causing Negative Impact on Mental Well-being

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been accused in a federal lawsuit of misleading the public and contributing to the mental health crisis among young people. The lawsuit, announced by numerous US states, alleges that Meta employed addictive features to hook users while hiding the serious risks associated with its platforms. Meta expressed disappointment at the accusations. The lawsuit claims that the company violated consumer protection laws through deceitful practices. It also accuses Meta of collecting data on children below the age of 13, in violation of its obligations under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the 32 attorneys general who signed the lawsuit, emphasized the need to hold social media companies accountable for their role in the national youth mental health crisis. Meta responded by stating its commitment to providing teenagers with safe online experiences and mentioned that it has already introduced more than 30 tools to support teenagers and their families. The company expressed disappointment that the attorneys general chose litigation instead of collaborative efforts to establish clear and age-appropriate standards for the various apps used by teenagers.