Delaware attorney general joins dozens of states in suing Meta, claiming it harmed kids

Dozens of states across the U.S., including Delaware, have sued Meta Platforms Inc. − the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and other communications sites − claiming that the company "knowingly designed and deployed harmful features" to get kids hooked on social media.

Attorney General Kathy Jennings and nearly three dozen other attorneys general filed the suit in federal court in the northern district of California on Tuesday. Attorneys general in nine additional states are also taking action, bringing the total number of states suing Meta to 41 plus the District of Columbia.

“I am laser focused on the role that social media plays in intensifying the spread of harmful content and fostering addiction among young people to their platforms,” Jennings said. “Whether it’s content that promotes self-harm or glorifies crime and violent conduct in our communities, companies must take decisive action to ensure that their websites do not endorse perilous behavior that harms the mental health of its users."

What does the Meta lawsuit claim?

According to the suit, Meta’s business practices violate state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which has "harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens."

The platforms have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a “youth mental health crisis.” The state Department of Justice said this has "ended lives, devastated families and damaged the potential of a generation of young people."

RELATED: Parents sue Meta, alleging teen daughter's eating disorder stemmed from Instagram addiction

In the suit, the attorneys general claim that Meta knew that its platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, were harmful to kids' mental health.

Instead of taking steps to mitigate this, however, the company reportedly concealed "the extent of the psychological and health harms suffered by young users addicted to use of its platforms," the Delaware DOJ said.

The suit also says that Meta knew that kids under 13 − the age most sites require users to be − were active on the platforms and "knowingly collected data from these users without parental consent."

"As the case will reveal, Meta is aware of the unsafe and addictive nature of its products, yet consistently chooses not to implement fundamental safety measures, opting instead to deceive the public," Jennings said.

Though much of the complaint cites confidential material that has not yet been made public, the Delaware Department of Justice said publicly available sources, including those previously released by former Meta employees, detail that the company profited by intentionally making its platforms addictive to children and teens.

Some of this was brought to light by whistleblower Frances Haugen's leaking of documents to The Wall Street Journal, which led to a series of stories in the outlet, and to a Senate hearing.

Algorithms "push users into descending 'rabbit holes' in an effort to maximize engagement," the state DOJ said. "Features like infinite scroll and near-constant alerts were created with the express goal of hooking young users."

Aza Raskin, the original developer of the infinite scroll concept, even told the BBC that if "you don't give your brain time to catch up with your impulses," a person will "just keep scrolling.”

Despite knowing this, Meta did nothing to reduce harm, the attorneys general say. Thus, the suit claims the company violated both state and federal laws.

What does the lawsuit aim to do?

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief − which restrains an entity from doing certain things or requiring the entity to act in a certain way − and monetary relief to "rectify the harms caused by these platforms."

In addition, Jennings is asking the court for monetary restitution for the thousands of young Delaware residents who use Meta’s platforms every day. The suit also asks for civil penalties.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Meta said 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.”

“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 added.

Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Meta facing growing lawsuit over claims social media harmed kids