A legal battle is intensifying as over 40 U.S. states have filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit, lodged in federal court in California, alleges that Meta has profited at the expense of children’s well-being, asserting that the company has “repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms.” Some states have chosen to file their claims in local courts instead of participating in the federal case.
The lawsuit asserts that Meta has exploited young users by constructing a business model aimed at maximizing the time children and teenagers spend on its platforms, even though this has had adverse effects on their mental health. New York Attorney General Letitia James, in a statement, blamed social media companies like Meta for the record levels of poor mental health among kids and teenagers, alleging that Meta intentionally designed its platforms with manipulative features that foster addiction and lower self-esteem.
The lawsuit goes on to accuse Meta of deceiving the public regarding the safety of its platforms, including the Horizon World virtual reality offering, a key element of Meta’s vision for the metaverse. The legal action calls for the federal court to mandate that Meta cease manipulative tactics and to impose substantial financial penalties, as well as require restitution, in an effort to hold the company accountable for its actions.
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