Meta, the parent firm of Facebook and Instagram, faces allegations of deceiving the public regarding social media's risks and its role in a youth mental health crisis.

Meta is being sued by 42 US states for misleading the public about the risks of social media and contributing to a mental health crisis among youth.

Highlights

• The lawsuit alleges that Meta used addictive features to "ensnare" users and concealed the "substantial dangers" of its platforms.
• Meta has said that it shares the attorneys general's commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online and has already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families.
• The lawsuit marks the biggest action to date against Meta and follows an investigation into the company's practices in 2021 by several state prosecutors.

Details The lawsuit seeks financial damages and a halt to Meta's alleged harmful practices. It specifically names features such as likes, alerts, and filters that it says are “known to promote young users' body dysmorphia.”

Large portions of the lawsuit are redacted from the public, but it is clear that the states are alleging that Meta has engaged in a pattern of deceptive and harmful conduct that has had a devastating impact on young people's mental health.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for social media companies and the way they operate. If the states are successful, it could force Meta to make major changes to its platforms and could lead to other lawsuits against other social media companies.