Attorneys general from 42 states have sued Meta, accusing the company of making Facebook and Instagram addictive and targeting children.

• A group of 42 attorneys general from both political parties is filing a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the social media giant of creating addictive features on Facebook and Instagram that specifically target children and teenagers.
• The lawsuits show the widespread agreement among politicians to safeguard young people from internet danger.
• The attorneys general allege that Meta intentionally designed its Facebook and Instagram products to keep young users engaged for longer periods and encourage them to return frequently.

A group of 42 attorneys general from different political backgrounds has filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that its Facebook and Instagram platforms are addictive and targeted at children and teenagers. This legal challenge to Meta's business is significant due to the broad support from attorneys general across the political spectrum.

In the Northern District of California, Meta is facing a federal lawsuit from 33 attorneys general, while nine additional attorneys general are filing in their own states. The states that filed the federal suit include California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin, according to a press release from New York Attorney General Letitia James' office.

State law enforcers are placing a bipartisan priority on protecting kids and teens from online harm, as evidenced by the lawsuits.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti stated at a press conference that America is facing a difficult time due to polarization as intense as during the Civil War. Despite their frequent disagreements, attorneys general from both parties have united to move in the same direction, indicating a sense of unity.

At the press conference, Colorado AG Phil Weiser stated that the action being taken is not taken lightly and is of utmost importance. Although the outcome is not expected to be decided quickly, the state has dedicated significant resources to address the issues that are of national significance.

In 2020, a group of 48 states and territories, along with the Federal Trade Commission, filed antitrust lawsuits against Meta.

The attorneys general claim that Meta's Facebook and Instagram products were designed to keep young users engaged for longer periods and encourage them to return repeatedly. The company achieved this through the use of its algorithms, notifications, and infinite scrolling feature. Additionally, the AGs allege that Meta's products negatively impact teenagers' mental health by promoting social comparison and body dysmorphia through features such as "likes" and photo filters.

The lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission alleges that Meta has breached the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from users under 13 without obtaining parental consent.

The states are calling for an end to Meta's harmful practices, along with penalties and restitution.

The attorneys general allege that Meta was aware of the negative effects its design could have on young users.

Meta cannot claim ignorance about the harmful effects of its products on young users, as its own internal research documents show its awareness of these harms, and internal studies that were kept private until leaked reveal that Meta has known about these serious harms for years.

In 2021, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen sparked controversy among lawmakers and parents after disclosing internal research from the company that revealed the negative impact of Instagram on teenagers. Specifically, a set of documents showed that 32% of teen girls felt worse about their bodies when using Instagram, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Following the report, Instagram announced plans to address the issue and help users focus on positive topics.

Meta should have notified users of the potential dangers and addictive nature of its product before they began using it, according to District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who filed an individual lawsuit against Meta for violating the district's consumer protection law.

We are committed to ensuring teens have positive online experiences and have already introduced over 30 tools to support them. However, we are disappointed that the attorneys general have chosen not to work productively with companies across the industry to establish clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use.

The attorneys general's focus on several Meta practices is similar to that of other social media businesses, including algorithm design to keep users engaged.

Skrmetti stated that the Meta lawsuits are only one aspect of an industry-wide investigation.

As one of the largest players in the industry and with clear evidence of misleading the public and making decisions that harm children, it is appropriate to begin with this lawsuit, according to him.

A group of state attorneys general from both political parties announced last year that they are probing TikTok over child safety issues on the platform.

Skrmetti stated that the multistate lawsuit against Meta could serve as a platform for settlement negotiations across the industry or could result in individual litigation pushing each company towards good behavior over time.

While Meta is not the only company attempting to keep users engaged with its features, it does so extremely effectively, to the detriment of millions of young people and thousands in the District, according to Schwalb.

According to Schwalb, all human beings are prone to FOMO, but 12- to 14-year-olds are the most concerned about missing out. This trait is part of the DNA that Meta employs to keep users engaged.

The broad coalition of bipartisan attorneys general highlights the broad interest of law enforcers on both sides of the aisle in consumer protection issues, including protecting kids' safety and mental health online, as emphasized by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union.

When an issue like this arises, it presents a chance for AGs to unite across party lines to enhance America's safety, according to Schwalb.