CALIFORNIA, USA — Attorneys general across the nation are joining to take action against social media giant, Meta, the company that runs Facebook and Instagram.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is co-leading a group of 33 attorneys general and filing a federal lawsuit against Meta, alleging the social media company designed and deployed features that addict children and teens and harm their mental health.
"Meta's conduct is deceptive, it's dangerous and, as we make clear in our lawsuit, it is illegal," Bonta said. "We refuse to allow Meta to trample on our children's mental and physical health all to promote its products and increase its profits."
Millions of young users log onto the apps each day, and Roseville licensed marriage and family therapist Kim McLaughlin sees the impacts locally.
"I'm seeing lots of kids with anxiety, depression, also eating disorders," she said. "There's this real comparison with what other people's bodies look like and really that unfiltered shaming."
She's also seen impacts, including decreased sleep and isolation.
The lawsuit follows a 2021 nationwide investigation and alleges Meta monetized young users attention through data harvesting and targeted advertising. It also alleges Meta knows its platform features are addictive and harmful but misrepresents that in the public.
"We want Meta to stop using... its algorithm, all its features that make it so addicting," said Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers. "We want to make sure that it's actually verifying age."
ABC10 reached out to Meta about the allegations.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We share the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families. We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path.”
Several attorneys general are filing state lawsuits against Meta as well, bringing the total number of states involved in action against the social media company to 42 of 50 states, according to Bonta's office.
Conversations surround the influence of social media on young minds has grown over the years.
McLaughlin recommended parents talk to their kids when they are using their phones or isolated in their rooms.
"I recommend going in and saying, 'What are you watching? Can I watch it with you? Tell me what you think about it.' Really having the conversation because we can restrict it and we can take it away, but the problem is that kids and teens often find it and they find a way to do it in a sneaky behavior," she said.
She added that it's important for adults to also keep an eye on how much time they spend on their phones, as that can impact how children are influenced.
She said parents can reach out to a licensed therapist for additional help.
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