NJ, other states sue Meta over impact of social media on young
New Jersey is among more than 40 states suing the social media conglomerate Meta over alleged negative impacts of the company’s platforms on young users, the state Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday.
The lawsuit faults Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg for “deceptive, manipulative practices on Instagram and Facebook that they knew were harmful,” New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a statement.
The suit also contends the company “purposefully” addicted users and “falsely assured” the public that some features were safe and appropriate for children. “Profits — not people, not its most vulnerable users, children and teens — drive the decision-making at Meta. That stops today,” Platkin said.
Platkin is one of 33 state attorneys general involved in the joint complaint filed in federal court, a list that includes New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Seven other states along with Washington, D.C., have filed lawsuits in state courts, while Florida filed its own federal suit.
Made platforms addictive for maximum engagement
The complaint alleges Meta purposely made its platforms addictive to young children for maximum engagement, through features like “infinite scroll” and frequent alerts to keep users engaged. It claims the company knew the features were harmful to users’ physical and mental well-being but did not “disclose or meaningfully try to minimize the harm.”
The lawsuit accuses Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law, along with state statutes such as the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. It also links the business practices to an ongoing mental health crisis that has “ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.”
The coalition of states included in the complaint is looking into the social media app TikTok for similar conduct. That investigation remains ongoing, the Attorney General’s Office said.