US States Sue Meta, Alleging Facebook and Instagram Cause Harm to Youth

Dozens of US states have filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, accusing the tech giant of prioritizing profit over the well-being of children. The lawsuit alleges that Meta knowingly designed features on its platforms that addict children and contribute to the youth mental health crisis. It also claims that Meta collected data on children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal law. The lawsuit comes after investigative reports and whistleblower revelations exposed Meta's knowledge of Instagram's detrimental effects on teen mental health.