Instagram is linked to depression, anxiety, and insomnia in children
The offices of the U.S. Attorney in 33 states have filed a lawsuit against Meta, particularly its Facebook and Instagram platforms, accusing them of negatively impacting the mental health of young people due to the addictive nature of these social networks.
In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, the attorneys general of 33 states, including California and Illinois, stated that Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the fundamental dangers of these platforms and has knowingly made children and teenagers highly dependent on and compelled to use these media.
The lawsuit states that research has shown that young people’s use of Meta’s social media has led to issues such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, disruption in education and daily life, and many other negative consequences.
The lawsuit further states that Meta has used powerful and unprecedented technologies to engage and ultimately trap young people and teenagers, with the company’s motivation being increased profitability.