US states accuse Meta of profiting ‘from children’s pain’

Numerous US states have sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for harming children’s mental health and misleading people about the safety of its platforms.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, alleges that Meta has profited from children’s pain by intentionally designing its platforms with features that addict children and lower their self-esteem.

“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.

The suit, which accuses Meta of deceptive and unlawful conduct harming vulnerable youth for financial gain, urges the federal court to order Meta to stop manipulative tactics and pay hefty financial penalties along with restitution, according to James.

The legal complaints resulted from a nationwide investigation announced in November of 2021, according to California attorney general Rob Bonta.

“Our bipartisan investigation has arrived at a solemn conclusion: Meta has been harming our children and teens, cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits,” Bonta said in a release.