Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, along with a bipartisan group of 41 other attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against media giant Meta, alleging that the company intentionally designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that are addictive for children and teens. The lawsuit claims that Meta has misled the public about the dangers of its platforms and manipulated its most vulnerable consumers, particularly teenagers and children. Miyares compared Meta’s behavior to that of Big Tobacco, using cartoon characters to appeal to young people.
According to Miyares, Meta was aware that a significant number of underage users were on Instagram, with an estimated 45% of 10 to 12-year-olds in the US having accounts. The lawsuit argues that Meta knew that over 50% of its users under the age of 13 were lying about their age during sign-up. Miyares drew parallels between Meta’s actions and those of Big Tobacco, stating that the company aimed to lock in young users as long-term clients.
The lawsuit accuses Meta of violating state laws and the federal Children Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Miyares highlighted the concerning mental health and well-being statistics among young children, including increased rates of depression, self-inflicted injuries, and teen suicide among girls.
Virginia joined a bipartisan investigation into Meta’s actions following media reports about the damaging effects of social media on youth. The investigation revealed that Meta had profited from monetizing children’s addiction to its platform and viewed young people as a “valuable and untapped market.”
The lawsuit alleges that Meta designed and deployed harmful and psychologically manipulative features to induce compulsive and extended platform use among young users. It criticizes features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) effect, which make it difficult for young users to disengage.
Meta responded to the allegations by stating that they have introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families and are committed to providing safe, positive experiences online. The company expressed disappointment in the attorneys general’s choice to pursue legal action instead of working with industry companies to establish clear, age-appropriate standards for apps used by teenagers.
Miyares emphasized the need for Meta to adopt an effective age verification system and align its platforms with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. He expressed readiness to fight Meta in court, with the support of nearly every attorney general in the country.
In conclusion, the lawsuit filed by attorneys general against Meta accuses the company of knowingly designing addictive features on Instagram and other platforms. The lawsuit claims that Meta has misled the public and exploited vulnerable consumers, particularly teenagers and children. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares compared Meta’s behavior to that of Big Tobacco, targeting young users. Meta has responded by stating its commitment to providing safe experiences online but faces the possibility of legal action if it does not address the concerns raised by the attorneys general.
