United States of America: Filed public lawsuit by 33 Attorney Generals against Meta for allegedly harming the mental health of minors through addictive features

On 24 October 2023, the Attorney Generals from 33 States filed a federal lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc. and its affiliates (Meta). Meta is accused of having developed and implemented detrimental features that result in children and teenagers becoming addicted, which has a negative effect on their mental health. In particular, they accuse Meta of purposefully increasing user engagement with the intent of making greater profits by targeting younger users. Meta allegedly misleadingly represents its social media platforms as secure and not inducing compulsive or excessive usage among young users. Furthermore, Meta is accused of deceptive practices by portraying its social media platforms as secure and harmless for younger users, while being aware of the mental harm caused. Additionally, Meta is accused of not complying with COPPA, which requires obtaining verifiable consent from users under the age of 13.