U.S. states and thousands of young users are suing Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap, accusing the social media companies of creating platforms that foster addiction and harm children and teenagers. In the case against Meta, being heard in federal court in Oakland, 29 states are seeking penalties that could potentially reach $1.4 trillion, Bloomberg reports, writes UNN.
Details
The lawsuits allege that the companies deliberately created features that encourage young users to spend extended periods of time on the platforms compulsively. These include endless feeds, algorithmic recommendations and notifications that prompt users to constantly return to social media.
In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent in the design and operation of their platforms and awarded a 20-year-old plaintiff $6 million. Overall, the companies face more than 3,000 similar lawsuits from children, teenagers and young people who report psychological and physical problems, and in some cases—deaths.
Companies deny the allegations
The plaintiffs cite the companies' internal documents. In particular, materials made public in 2021 by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen indicated that Meta knew about the negative impact of its platforms on young people. Documents from ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, also stated that teenagers, due to their underdeveloped ability to assess risks, are more likely to repeat dangerous stunts seen online.
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Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap reject the allegations. The companies say they did not create their products to attract children, are implementing safety tools and are working to protect young users. Meta also argues that social media helps children stay connected with friends and family.
Separately, more than 1,300 U.S. school districts have filed lawsuits. They are seeking compensation for expenses related to problems that, in their view, are caused by social media, including additional psychologists, security and teacher training. In May, Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google agreed to pay $27 million to settle one such lawsuit.
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