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42 US States Sue Meta Over Alleged Harmful Effects on Children's Mental Health

Legal Action Taken Based on Claims of Unlawful Data Collection from Minors and Use of Addictive Features that Negatively Impact Youth Sleep Habits, Body Image, and Mental Health.

42 US states, along with the District of Columbia, have filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the company designed its products, including Facebook and Instagram, in a way that harms the mental health of children.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that Meta uses various strategies such as addictive product design, intrusive notifications, and data collection from users under 13 without parental consent to increase the time children spend on its platforms.
Evidence showing the negative effects of excessive social media use on children, namely disrupted sleep patterns, attention problems, and feelings of exclusion were highlighted during the legal proceedings.
Additional individual lawsuits were filed by nine US states, echoing similar allegations of Meta's deceptive and harmful practices towards young users.
Meta has pushed back against the claims, stating that large empirical studies don't suggest social media is the main factor behind mental health trends among teens and pointing out features designed to help minimize screen time on their apps. Nonetheless, critics argue that Meta prioritizes profits over the safety and wellbeing of child users.
The outcome of this lawsuit(s) may potentially lead to a settlement that forces Meta to make significant changes in its practices or could set a precedent in the tech industry regarding the responsibility of these companies in promoting the safety and wellbeing of young users.

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