Attorneys general in 42 states have pushed forward with lawsuits that allege social media company Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has been using deceptive and addictive marketing tactics to target kids and teens.
The attorneys general also allege that Meta has designed its platforms, specifically Facebook and Instagram, to encourage children to stay on the platform for longer and return frequently. Even amid a period of partisan politics, the lawsuit drummed up wide support from attorneys general of every stripe.
The attorneys allege that Meta leveraged algorithms, incessant alerts and notifications, and also infinitely scrollable content feeds to get kids addicted to the platforms. The AGs further claim that Meta is having a detrimental impact on the mental health of many teens and kids. They also argue that Meta's own internal research has proven that some practices may prove detrimental to children. A whistleblower who leaked documents in 2021 reported that Meta was well aware of the fact that "thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse."
Consumer protection laws can vary from state to state, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibits advertisers from gathering and using personal data for those under the age of 13. Government attorneys have accused Meta of violating this rule. Some attorneys general also allege that Meta's advertising is deceptive because it fails to acknowledge that its platforms are addictive and potentially harmful. These suits rely on ample precedent — in 1998, tobacco companies were held liable for deceptive practices because they failed to acknowledge that cigarettes are addictive and harmful.
Meta has responded to the allegations and stated they were "disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path." How might the lawsuit play out?
