If your children are also spending a lot of time using Instagram and Facebook, take heed—their parent company, Meta, is now facing a new lawsuit. It is alleged that these platforms have been designed in such a way that…
Instagram and Facebook are harming children’s minds! This isn’t just our claim—it is an accusation leveled against the company. Meta has found itself in a new legal quagmire, with allegations that its popular social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, are damaging the mental health of children. In the United States, their parent company, Meta, is facing a new lawsuit. It is alleged that the company designed these platforms specifically to get young users addicted.
In a recent case, two young women have claimed that excessive social media use has negatively impacted their mental health. This lawsuit could potentially influence thousands of other ongoing cases against social media companies.
People are becoming addicted
According to Reuters, the trial has begun in Los Angeles with the jury selection process. Meta—Mark Zuckerberg’s company—and Snap (the parent company of Snapchat) are the remaining defendants in this case. The plaintiffs allege that features such as “endless scrolling,” “autoplay,” and “Snapchat streaks” encourage people to use social media compulsively and excessively.
Plaintiffs seek compensation
Court documents identify the plaintiffs as S.J. (a 16-year-old girl from Illinois) and K.D.B. (an 18-year-old woman from Mississippi). They stated that they began using YouTube as early as age three or four, and started using other social media platforms around the age of nine.
They allege that their use of social media led to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation, including punitive damages.
However, the allegations against the companies vary. A teenager from Illinois has settled her claim against Meta, while a young woman from Mississippi is continuing her lawsuit against the company. Both plaintiffs also have claims against Snap. They had filed lawsuits against YouTube and TikTok as well, but those companies reached settlements before the trials could begin.
Meta and Snap deny the allegations
According to Reuters, Meta has denied these allegations. The company states that a young person’s mental health can be affected by a variety of factors. Meta also noted that it has implemented safety measures on its platforms over the past decade. Snap has likewise denied the allegations, arguing that Snapchat operates differently from traditional social media platforms and that it has put safety systems in place for its users.
These trials could last for several weeks, and individuals such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel may be called to testify.
Why this case is significant
This is the second such lawsuit in which individual plaintiffs have alleged that social media companies deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive. In a previous case that emerged in March, a jury found Meta and YouTube liable for negligence and ordered them to pay $6 million in damages.
More than 3,000 similar lawsuits are currently being heard together in a Los Angeles court. The outcome of this new case could influence how these companies handle other litigation involving allegations that social media platforms have caused harm to young users.