US states sue Meta for child endangerment

More than 40 US states have sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for endangering the health of children and young people. "Meta uses powerful and unprecedented technologies to attract (...) and trap children and youth for profit," says the lawsuit filed in California on 24 October. The states accuse the corporation of designing its online services "in a manipulative manner that causes children to become addicted and at the same time lose self-esteem". "The mental health of children and adolescents is reaching negative records, and online services are to blame for that," New York State Attorney General Letitia James pointed out. 

Profit maximisation is the focus

Meta deceived users about the "significant dangers" of its online services in order to maximise its profits, they added. The company had exploited young people because its business model was based on them spending as much time as possible on the platforms, even though this was detrimental to their health. Meta said it was "disappointed" by the lawsuit. It pointed to more than 30 measures to support young people and their families.

Source: www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de