Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced today, that he has initiated a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The suit alleges that the company engages in harmful business practices that specially affect children as stated in the official release. Supported by a coalition of 33 states, the accusation frames Meta of manipulating its social media platforms to exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of younger users, subsequently leading to psychological distress including depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and self-harm thoughts.
Given that suicide is the second main cause for death among children aged between 10 and 14, which is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the potential negative effects of social media cannot be ignored according to the CDC. The constantly increasing impact of technology and social media feeds into the necessity of this debate.
The alarming data presented by the Illinois Attorney General's office correlates the rise in Instagram's popularity with a 40% increase in persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts among teenagers. Additionally, suicide attempts among high school girls have increased by 30%. Diseases related to Instagram use also prevail in Illinois, where every month almost one million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 access Instagram, with more than half a million using it daily from 2020 to 2021, as per the press release.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta has violated the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) through the collection of personal information of children under 13 without parental consent. A case shared by the grieving parents of Nate Bronstein, a 15-year-old victim of cyberbullying who tragically passed away in 2022, further illustrates the harm that can be inflicted, as detailed by the lawsuit details. An injunction to halt the alleged malpractices of Meta is being sought by the coalition which underscores the need to protecting young users from psychologically harmful content.
In May 2021, Attorney General Raoul, alongside 44 attorneys general, urged Facebook to halt plans concerning the launch of an Instagram version for under-13 children, according to CNBC. Also, in March 2022, Raoul led a nationwide probe into the social media platform TikTok, due to concerns regarding its potentially damaging effects on the physical and mental health of young individuals, as per Reuters. These recurring investigations show the increasing urgency that is tied to the impact of social media on younger generations.
This lawsuit against Meta represents a significant measure for public health, particularly beneficial for the well-being of the youth. According to Alexa James, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Illinois, smartphones and social media have the potential to contribute to the complex mental health challenges that they already face, as further detailed in the press release. As these legal proceedings unfold, attention will be focussed on the obligation of social media platforms to adequately protect their vulnerable users and take essential steps towards fostering a better digital environment.
