The Impact of Facebook and Instagram on Children and Teenagers
A group of state prosecutors revealed on Monday that the company behind Facebook and Instagram has designed both social media platforms to keep young users engaged for extended periods of time. The purpose of this strategy is to gather personal data and sell it to advertisers, according to the prosecutors.
In October, attorneys general from 33 states filed a federal lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. While the details of the lawsuit were initially undisclosed, more information has now been unveiled. The states accuse Meta of using manipulative algorithms and technological tools to attract and maintain user engagement, while collecting personal information for advertisers. This includes data from children, which is obtained without parental consent, a violation of the law.
The complaint, which spans 233 pages, highlights the potential physical and mental harm caused by excessive use of Facebook and Instagram among teenagers and children.
The state prosecutors have built their case by presenting snippets of emails, earnings call transcripts, and other internal communications. These documents indicate the significant value of young users' personal information and time to the company's profits.
In a statement sent via email in October, Meta expressed its disappointment with the approach taken by the attorneys general in the joint lawsuit.
Meta remains committed to providing teenagers with safe and positive online experiences, and has already introduced more than 30 tools to support them and their families," the company stated at the time.
"The complaint distorts our work by selectively quoting and cherry-picking documents," said a spokesperson for Meta in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch on Monday.
The lawsuit involves attorneys general from various states, including California and Wisconsin.
