FL, 41 States Sue Meta Over 'Addictive' Features They Say Harm Kids

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A lawsuit has been filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and 41 other states against Meta Platforms Inc., which owns and operates Facebook and Instagram, claiming that the social media platforms’ harmful business practices are targeting children.

In a release announcing the lawsuit, Moody said she was taking action to stop Meta from targeting minors with addictive features that "keep them online for hours" and destroy their mental health.

“Meta has gone unchecked for too long, and our children are suffering the consequences of these unlawful practices," Moody said.

The 233-page lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in California on behalf of the states, claims Meta "knowingly designed" harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that make children and teens addicted to the platform.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without informing parents or obtaining parental consent, which is a violation of federal law. It also states that Meta released misleading public reports that show low rates of negative and harmful experiences by its users.

A coalition of 32 attorneys general filed the suit. Moody was among nine additional attorneys general filing lawsuits in their respective states, bringing the total number of attorneys general taking action against Meta to 42.

“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens. Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its social media platforms,” according to the complaint. “It has concealed the ways in which these platforms exploit and manipulate its most vulnerable consumers: teenagers and children.”

In a statement to Patch, Meta 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.”