Dozens Of States Sue Meta Over Children’s Mental Health

A total of 33 state attorneys general launched a joint lawsuit against tech giant Meta over its platforms’ alleged adverse effects on children, according to a court filing on Tuesday.

In an effort to maximize profits, Meta has deceived the public about the significant risks to minors posed by its social media platforms, the lawsuit alleges. It has allegedly concealed and turned a blind eye to how the platforms have extensively harmed American teenagers’ and children’s mental and physical health.

“Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms,” the complaint asserts. “It has concealed the ways in which these Platforms exploit and manipulate its most vulnerable consumers: teenagers and children. And it has ignored the sweeping damage these Platforms have caused to the mental and physical health of our nation’s youth. In doing so, Meta engaged in, and continues to engage in, deceptive and unlawful conduct in violation of state and federal law.”