Meta sued by 41 U.S. states for allegedly manipulating teenagers, documents claim algorithm lures them into social media

Deadline reported that Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, is facing lawsuits from 41 states in the United States for allegedly harming the mental health of teenagers and children through its algorithms and like mechanisms. The total amount sought in damages could potentially reach billions of dollars.

Meta Accused by Multiple U.S. States of Manipulating Minors

Meta, which has been focusing on developing artificial intelligence and creator tools for its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, is now facing accusations and lawsuits from various states in the United States.

The 233-page complaint alleges that over the past decade, Meta, through its popular social platforms Facebook and Instagram, has significantly altered the psychological and social reality of American youth, causing widespread and severe mental and social harm to minors and children:

Meta has used unprecedented advanced algorithms and like-generating techniques to attract minors and keep them endlessly engaged. In pursuit of maximizing economic gains, it has repeatedly downplayed the dangers of its social platforms to the public, and covertly obscured its manipulative methods on minors and children, causing harm to their mental and physical health.

The document states that Meta has violated and will continue to violate state and federal laws related to fraudulent activities.

It is reported that 33 states, including California and New York, filed a joint lawsuit in federal court yesterday; additionally, 8 states took legal actions through their Attorney General's offices to their local judicial authorities.

The filings show that the compensation sought by each state for each incident varies, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 per incident, with the total potential compensation amount speculated to reach billions of dollars.

Meta's Response: Disappointed by Lawsuit, Claims AI Solutions Implemented

Facing the aforementioned accusations, a spokesperson for Meta stated that they stand with the state attorneys general in utilizing AI tools to review harmful content, block private message harassment, and monitor and remove child exploitation content:

We share the concerns of state attorneys general regarding the safety and mental health of minors and have introduced over 30 AI tools to assist in filtering inappropriate content.

However, they added, "However, states have chosen a legal approach rather than collaborating with companies in the industry to establish clear standards for the use of youth applications. We are disappointed by this and believe that perhaps setting uniform standards for all social platforms is the way to resolve this issue."

The spokesperson also emphasized that research on the negative impact of social media on the mental health of minors is inconclusive. The company claims to have taken multiple measures to mitigate potential risks, including hiding likes, setting private accounts, and monitoring and removing content related to eating disorders or suicide.

Meta Not the First Time Facing Accusations

It is worth noting that this is not the first lawsuit against Meta. Previously, it was fined over $90,000 daily for nearly 3 months by local data protection authorities in Norway for unlawfully collecting user data.

In addition, Meta's metaverse game Horizon Worlds has also been warned by several U.S. senators to halt the development of the game, citing serious impacts and risks to the development of minors.