Meta Faces Allegations of Underage: Meta, the social media giant, faces serious allegations in an ongoing federal lawsuit. Attorneys general from 33 states accuse Meta of knowingly allowing accounts belonging to children under 13, collecting their personal information without parental consent. The lawsuit claims Meta received over a million reports of underage users on Instagram between 2019 and mid-2023, yet only disabled a fraction of these accounts.
The 54-count lawsuit argues that Meta violated state-based consumer protection statutes and the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA), which prohibits the collection of personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. The complaint seeks court orders to stop these practices, with potential civil penalties reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.
Meta’s privacy violations extend to allegations that its algorithm could lead children toward mentally harmful content. Internal communications reveal concerns among employees about content on Instagram triggering negative emotions and impacting the well-being of young users. Studies suggested that the algorithm might amplify negative social comparisons and content harmful to body image.
Despite internal awareness of these issues, the lawsuit claims Meta refused to change its algorithm and even denied or obscured the promotion of harmful content. The company’s leaders were allegedly aware of the impact of social comparison on Instagram, but no timeline for such awareness is specified in the lawsuit.
The complaints also address Meta’s knowledge of its recommendation algorithms triggering dopamine releases in young users, potentially leading to addictive behavior. The company is accused of profiting from intentionally designing platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted while lowering their self-esteem.
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Meta’s response emphasizes the complexity of age verification online and expresses support for federal legislation requiring parental approval for teens under 16 downloading apps. The company denies actively directing users toward content promoting eating disorders and challenges the lawsuit’s characterization of its work.
This legal action is part of a larger wave of lawsuits resulting from a bipartisan, multistate investigation initiated in 2021, following Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen‘s revelations about the company’s internal documents highlighting negative impacts on young people’s mental health.
Our Reader’s Queries
What are the allegations against Meta?
Meta is facing charges in a federal lawsuit filed by 33 US states. The lawsuit alleges that the company has deceived the public about the risks associated with its social media platforms and taken advantage of vulnerable users, particularly minors.
What is the lawsuit against Facebook and Instagram?
According to a recent lawsuit, Facebook and Instagram have been accused of running ads from major corporations like Walmart and Match Group alongside content that sexualizes minors. The legal filing claims that the social media giants have been profiting from potentially promoting child sexual exploitation. This is a serious allegation that raises concerns about the safety of young people online. It is important for companies to take responsibility for the content they allow on their platforms and ensure that it does not put vulnerable individuals at risk.