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A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general sue Meta in the US, alleging that Facebook and Instagram features are addictive and aimed at kids and teens

- A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general is suing Meta, alleging features on Facebook and Instagram are addictive and are aimed at kids and teens.

CNBC Lauren Feiner

Discussion

  • @randiweingarten Rhonda Weingarten on threads
    🙌 Thrilled that bipartisan AGs unite for children's safety by taking on META.  META's claim that states sue instead of collaborating is false, we've all been pushing META for years.  As Frances Haugen showed, META hid the truth for years. …
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    3/ Push messaging dates back to the 1990s.  Push notifications as we know them are largely the work of Apple, which made them popular via the introduction of the Apple Push Notification Service waaaaaaay back in iOS 3 (2008-2009)
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    4/ Snap filed for an utility patent describing an “ephemeral gallery of ephemeral messages” in October 2014 (US Pat.  No 20160099901A1) https://patents.google.com/...
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    2/ While the lawsuit claims “Meta thus develops and implements features to attract young users and keep them engaged on its Social Media Platforms for as long as possible.  These features include: engagement-based (as opposed to chronological) feeds; infinite scroll; push notific…
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    6/ The lawsuit claims that “In the fall of 2016, Instagram debuted its infinite scroll system” and strongly suggests that the reason they did this was because inifinite scroll is a ""teasing" feature [that] is intended to keep young users of the Platform engaged and continuing to…
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    5/ And video content as the basis for a social media platform was popularized by YouTube, which was founded in 2005.  And YouTube can also claim credit for using a recommendation engine to serve video content catered to users' preferences. https://www.businessinsider.com/ ...
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    So, I tried reading the lawsuit against Meta and I don't see how state AGs intend to convince a court of their claims when virtually all of the evidence supporting their assertions is either circumstantial or demonstrably false.  For example, a section about the psychology of gam…
  • @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads
    I'm so skeptical of these alleged harms and i really worry about the ongoing govt efforts to arbitrarily restrict kids access to online spaces https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
  • @datadrivenmd Jorge Caballero on threads
    I'm old enough to remember when this brand of moral panic was about rap music, then video games, then music videos/MTV, then a wardrobe malfunction, and then video games (again).
  • @thatadamguy Adam Lasnik on threads
    Another day, another “WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN???” misguided push.  Unclear how much of this is sincere vs. just craven political opportunism.  Look, I find infinite scroll and excessive default notifications annoying, too, but designed to evil'y threaten kids well-bei…
  • @willoremus Will Oremus on threads
    not necessarily defending meta but if you're looking for what's addicting kids to their screens i'd probably look at video games first and tiktok second
  • @zachpraiss Zach Praiss on x
    Meta is “disappointed” that state attorneys general are not working to create “age-appropriate standards” for teens online instead of suing the company according to @CaseyNewton. But Meta has fought to block the California Age-Appropriate Design Code? [image]
  • @jason_kint Jason Kint on x
    Wow. That this is Facebook's official statement by Andy Stone after being sued by nearly every state in the union for its role in depression and death by suicide after burying evidence and fighting legislation to rein it in. No wonder their surrogates are otherwise silent. 1/3 [i…
  • @agwilliamtong AG William Tong on x
    “Behavioral cocaine.” That's how one developer described Meta's abusive practices and algorithms on its social media platforms. Meta saw American kids as a ‘valuable and untapped market’—nameless factors on a bottom line to maximize profits. [video]
  • @westvirginiaag @westvirginiaag on x
    The WV AG joined 33 attorneys general throughout the country in suing Meta in federal court alleging the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that purposefully addict children and teens. (1/2) [image]
  • @viacristiano Cristiano Lima on x
    The flurry of federal & state lawsuits represent the most significant effort by state enforcers to rein in the impact of social media on children's mental health
  • @govcox @govcox on x
    We believe Meta has violated the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act by designing platforms to trap children in excessive, harmful use that causes serious mental health issues. As a result we filed a lawsuit today against Meta and its subsidiary Instagram LLC. Read more here ⬇️...
  • @lynnfitchag Lynn Fitch on x
    Today, I joined a coalition of 42 Attorneys General in filing lawsuits against Meta in federal and state courts alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on its social media platforms that purposefully addict children and teens. Click on the press…
  • @agandrewbailey Attorney General Andrew Bailey on x
    Today I filed suit against Meta in order to enforce our consumer protection laws and protect Missouri children. We assert that Meta designed and deployed harmful features for Facebook and Instagram to addict young users to its platforms and enhance its bottom line. [image]
  • @agrobbonta Rob Bonta on x
    Meta lied about Instagram's addictiveness. Meta lied about Instagram's negative impact on young people's mental health. Meta lied, and our children paid the price. I won't stand for it. Not as a father, and not as California's Attorney General. [video]
  • @nh_doj @nh_doj on x
    NH Files Suit Against Meta for Harming the Mental Health & Well-being of Children: “Our complaint represents a clear message to Meta, that New Hampshire will not allow it to profit at the expense of our kids,” said AG John Formella. #NH #NHPolitics #NAAG https://www.doj.nh.gov/..…
  • @jolingkent Jo Ling Kent on x
    California AG @RobBonta says today's federal lawsuit against Meta/Facebook is the “first through the door” and hinted other lawsuits against other social platforms may be on the way. Bonta also said there were settlement discussions with Meta reps but the states decided to sue. […
  • @agrobbonta Rob Bonta on x
    NEWS: The California Department of Justice is suing Meta. Our bipartisan investigation found that Meta is harming our young people, cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits. With our lawsuit, we're drawing the line. https://oag.ca.gov/... [image]
  • @bobfergusonag Bob Ferguson on x
    #BREAKING Every parent knows that Facebook and Instagram are addictive for youth. Parents are trying, but they're up against a social media giant that's exploiting the most addictive features. Today I'm taking Meta to court to protect youth in a bipartisan lawsuit.
  • @swiftstories Mike Swift on x
    The language about ⁦@Meta⁩ conduct is really striking in the #socialmedia suit being filed in US District Court in San Francisco and state courts this morning. “Meta is preying on an entire generation of young people,” says Massachusetts AG Campbell. [image]
  • @agtennessee @agtennessee on x
    Today, along with 42 other states, TN AG Skrmetti filed an historic lawsuit against Meta to hold them accountable for knowingly building their platforms to make money by harming kids. Read more: https://www.tn.gov/... [image]
  • @senblumenthal Richard Blumenthal on x
    This bipartisan state AG lawsuit powerfully demonstrates that Meta knew Instagram harmed teens & children, but misled the public & Congress about those dangers—putting profits over people.
  • @agowa Attorney General Bob Ferguson on x
    We are filing a federal lawsuit today against Meta—the parent company of Instagram and Facebook—along with dozens of attorneys general, accusing the social media company of intentionally putting profits before the well-being of millions of kids. Read more: https://www.atg.wa.gov/…
  • @agashleymoody AG Ashley Moody on x
    .@Meta has gone unchecked for too long, and our children are suffering the consequences of these unlawful practices. Today, I took action to stop Meta from targeting minors with addictive features to keep them online for hours, collecting their data and other unlawful actions... …
  • @ohioag @ohioag on x
    AG Yost & 32 of his colleagues filed a federal lawsuit today against Meta alleging that the social-media technology giant designed and deployed harmful features for Facebook & Instagram to addict young users to its platforms & enhance its bottom line. ➡️ https://www.ohioattorneyg…
  • @ncago @ncago on x
    Attorney General @JoshStein_ on Meta trying to keep kids on its apps longer so it can take more data from them and serve them more ads: “This is not an accident. This is the goal.” [image]
  • @jason_kint Jason Kint on x
    Facebook's core biz model, targeting and amplification, which delivers 97% of its ad revenue will be at the heart of this. I'm still reading (220 pages) but expect long-time exec CMO Alex Schultz to be a key player in it. Much redacted but footnotes like 6 stand out for sure. /3 …
  • @franceshaugen Frances Haugen on x
    Today is history in the making. 80%+ of the states in the US are banding together to sue for safer social media for our children. 🎉 I'm in DC and Boston this week - happy to comment or provide context on this giant leap forward in tech accountability. https://www.washingtonpost.c…
  • @jason_kint Jason Kint on x
    I've said this previously, Facebook is about to have its big tobacco harm moment beyond antitrust and privacy scrutiny. Advertisers haven't had the strength to stand strong, but plaintiffs (hundreds local + private) are stacking up. Here is how the State AGs summarize case. /2 [i…
  • @newyorkstateag Ny Ag on x
    Today, my office and a nationwide coalition of AGs are suing @Meta for harming kids with its platforms and fueling the youth mental health crisis. We're going to end Meta's behavior and keep our kids safe online. ⤵️ [video]
  • @agellison Attorney General Keith Ellison on x
    BREAKING: I'm joining a coalition of attorneys general to sue Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. Meta built features onto their platforms that deliberately target and addict young people, causing serious harm in the process. I won't allow that to continue. [image…
  • @newyorkstateag Ny Ag on x
    Meta has claimed its platforms are safe for kids, but in reality, it knew its features were harmful. The company designed its platforms with manipulative features that hook children while collecting data on kids under 13 without parental consent, violating child protection laws.
  • @agellison Attorney General Keith Ellison on x
    Science has shown that children and teens have limited capacity for self-control. Meta knows this and they're taking advantage of it. Facebook and Instagram features like infinite scroll and near-constant alerts were created to deliberately target and hook young people.
  • @dcattorneygen AG Brian Schwalb on x
    NEW: We're suing Meta for endangering District youth. Meta designed Instagram with features that lure in and addict kids, putting profits over their well-being. This lawsuit seeks to end Meta's exploitation of young people and remedy the damage it's done to an entire generation.
  • r/technology r on reddit
    41 states sue Meta for allegedly addicting kids to Facebook and Instagram
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Meta sued by US states for allegedly harming mental health of young people