Dozens of states accuse Meta of harming kids' mental health in bipartisan lawsuit

A bipartisan group of dozens of states are accusing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of an alleged scheme to "exploit young users for profit" by employing addictive features that harm children's mental health, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

While 33 state attorneys general filed the federal lawsuit in California against Meta on Tuesday, nine additional attorneys general are suing Meta in their own states, which means that 42 state attorneys general are taking action against the platform, according to an announcement about the lawsuit.

"Meta has marketed and directed its Social Media Platforms to children under the age of 13 and has actual knowledge that those children use its Platforms. But Meta has refused to obtain (or even to attempt to obtain) the consent of those children’s parents prior to collecting and monetizing their personal data," according to the lawsuit from the 33 states. 

Meta said Tuesday that it shares "the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families," according to The Associated Press.

"We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path," the company also said.

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