The technology company behind Instagram and Facebook, Meta, faces a lawsuit filed by 41 U.S. states. The lawsuit was filed on claims of misleading algorithms and content harmful for teens.
In the lawsuit filed, the U.S. states argue that Meta’s algorithms keep teens on its applications, like Instagram, by blinding them to various content through endless scrolling. The scrolling, made enticing by their algorithms, was also said to be the main cause of the exposure to harmful content in Meta applications.
(Athulya Pujala)
“I know that my daughter is old enough to know what to watch and what not to watch, but as her mother I still worry about what bad things she could be learning on those apps,” a mother of a teenager, Ramya Yenugula said. “It’s not like she can control what comes up next as she scrolls anyway!”
In the lawsuit, Meta was also charged with releasing deceptive reports that showcased a relatively low percentage of teens who were negatively affected by social media. Meta also stated that their features were not manipulative or hurtful to teens at all.
“As a teacher myself, I see my students constantly impacted by social media, as it dictates from what they do to how they do it,” educator David Madlin said. “It’s definitely those features in Meta’s apps that get students attracted and addicted to social media.”
Along with the endless scrolling, another issue brought up in the lawsuit was the safety of teens using Meta’s social media applications. Teens can be hurt in different ways on social media such as stealing information, cyber bullying, and more.
In the New York Times article, Meta accused by states of using features to lure children to Instagram and Facebook by Cecila Kang and Natasha Singer, it quoted the official case packet stating,“the attorneys general also charged Meta with violating a federal children’s online privacy law,” Kang and Singer said, “accusing it of unlawfully collecting ‘the personal data of its youngest users’ without their parent’s permission.”
The lawsuit in place for the protection of teens has reached supporting audiences like parents. Parents who have heard about the lawsuit have applauded the U.S. states for taking a stand to support the safety of their teens.
“ Back in my day, no one used cell phones or social media growing up, so we never experienced the dangers of it,” Yenugula said. “Kids and teens these days need the protection of the U.S. states from those dangers in social media.”
The teens, whom the lawsuit was filed for, also share their views about what they think about the lawsuit and what it can bring for them.
“While I appreciate what the states think they’re doing for us, I don’t think they realize that we are old enough to regulate our content and be safe ourselves,” sophomore Saanvi Baggari said. “The dangers of social media are a problem, but it’s up to us to fix it, not anyone or anything else.”
In the meantime, Meta has responded to the lawsuit and has stated that they are working to create a better environment for the teens using their apps. They also mentioned that they were disappointed with how this had to be done.
(Athulya Pujala)
“I think everyone needs to understand that if we left this problem alone, Meta would have only done worse in protecting our kids on their apps,” Yenugula said. “It’s time to hit the problem right at the center.”
