• Source:REUTERS
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Meta Platforms and its Instagram unit have been sued by dozens of US States on grounds of contributing to a youth mental health crisis through the addictive nature of their social media platforms. A complaint was filed in the federal court of Oakland, California by 33 states including California and Illinois. In the complaint, it was claimed that Meta, which also operates Facebook, has been misleading the public about the substantial dangers of its platforms and knowingly induced young children and teenagers into addictive and compulsive social media use.

"Research has shown that young people's use of Meta's social media platforms is associated with depression, anxiety, insomnia, interference with education and daily life, and many other negative outcomes," the complaint said.

The lawsuit also alleged that Meta was seeking to expand what the states say are harmful practices into virtual reality, including Meta's Horizon Worlds platform as well as the communications apps WhatsApp and Messenger.

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This lawsuit is the latest in a series of ones filed on behalf of children and teenagers against social media giants. Numerous lawsuits about the addictive nature of social media have been filed on behalf of children and school districts against  TikTok and YouTube.

"Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens," the complaint said. "Its motive is profit."

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The lawsuit seeks a variety of remedies, including substantial civil penalties.

Responding to the complaints, Meta said that it had sought to make young people safe online.

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," Meta said in a statement.

The tech giant also shared declined slightly after the states' lawsuit was made public and were down 0.3 per cent.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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