A lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general against Meta Platforms will proceed, as a U.S. federal judge has declined to dismiss the case. The lawsuit accuses Meta of designing its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, in a way that fosters addictive usage among children, while allegedly keeping the potential negative effects hidden. The court’s decision allows claims related to deceptive practices, unfair business conduct, and violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to advance.
The ruling also pointed out that Meta did not comply with certain parental notification and consent requirements mandated by federal law. The attorneys general argue that the frequent use of Facebook and Instagram has been associated with mental health challenges for young users, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and interruptions to their educational and daily activities. They claim that Meta deliberately included features in these platforms that promote extended user engagement despite knowing about these risks.
Meta has rejected the claims, maintaining its commitment to the well-being of young users. The company contends that there is no universally accepted medical definition of “social media addiction.” However, the judge acknowledged that there are factual disagreements about whether Facebook and Instagram were intentionally designed to promote compulsive usage, suggesting these issues need to be resolved in court.
The case brings to light growing concerns over the impact of social media on youth, with state officials pushing for accountability and transparency in how these platforms operate. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus will remain on whether Meta’s practices contribute to unhealthy usage patterns and if they have adequately addressed the potential harms to their young audience.