The lawsuit contends that Meta has consistently deceived the public regarding the significant risks associated with its social media platforms, all in the pursuit of financial gain.
While not all states joined the federal case, several decided to pursue similar legal action in local courts. The legal filing asserts that Meta's business model exploits young users, as it is structured to maximize the time they spend on the platforms, even at the cost of their mental and emotional health.
“Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta are to blame,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement announcing the suit.
“Meta has profited from children’s pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem.”
The suit accuses Meta of deceptive and unlawful conduct harming vulnerable youth for financial gain.
The suit urges the federal court to order Meta to stop manipulative tactics and pay hefty financial penalties along with restitution, according to James.
“Social media companies, including Meta, have contributed to a national youth mental health crisis and they must be held accountable,” James said.
Meta said it was “disappointed” by the suit and that the states were not working with the array of social media companies to create age-appropriate standards.
Meta maintained that it has developed more than 30 tools in its apps to support teenage users, and made it easier for parents to “shape” online activity.
