On Tuesday, Washington's Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, revealed that the state is taking legal action against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. This lawsuit, which is supported by 41 other state attorneys general, alleges that Meta deliberately targeted and harmed young users.

The legal complaint asserts that Meta intentionally developed and implemented product features with harmful and psychologically manipulative effects, driving young users to engage compulsively and for extended periods on their platforms. The company is accused of falsely representing the safety and suitability of these features for young users.

The lawsuit specifies the following allegations of harm:

Deceptive practices in downplaying the risks of its platforms.

Concealment of efforts to exploit and manipulate vulnerable consumers, specifically teenagers and children.

Ignoring the adverse effects on youth.

Failure to discontinue the use of known harmful features.

This comprehensive 233-page lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It argues that Meta's actions contravene state consumer protection laws and the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). While 33 states are part of the federal lawsuit, seven states and Washington, D.C., are pursuing cases in state courts, and Florida is initiating its own federal lawsuit.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Meta conveyed via email that the company shares the commitment of the attorneys general to offer a safe and positive online experience for teenagers. The company stated that it has already introduced more than 30 tools to support teens and their families. They expressed disappointment in the attorneys general's decision to pursue legal action rather than collaborating with the industry to establish clear, age-appropriate standards for apps used by teenagers.

The lawsuit seeks a "permanent injunction to stop ongoing violations and prevent future violations of the COPPA Rule by Meta" and demands damages, restitution, and other forms of compensation.

Individual states have made additional requests to address the issue. Bob Ferguson, for instance, is seeking civil penalties and enhanced civil penalties of up to $12,500 for each violation of Washington state law. Additionally, he is requesting money, property, and data acquired by Meta as a result of the conduct challenged in the lawsuit.

At a recent event in Seattle, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, emphasized the platform's efforts to protect teenagers. He addressed an audience of approximately three dozen online influencers who create content related to parenting issues. Mosseri stated that Instagram's role is to ensure a safe and age-appropriate experience for users, regardless of their age.

The lawsuit challenges the core business model of Meta, which relies on generating advertising revenue based on the amount of time and user engagement.

Katie Davis, an associate professor at the University of Washington's Information School and co-director of the UW Digital Youth Lab, also spoke at the event alongside Mosseri. Her lab is currently researching how social media platforms could modify their approach to assess and prioritize the well-being of their users.

"The prevailing business model employed by social media platforms is centered on user engagement—more engagement attracts more advertisers, and that's what they seek," Davis explained to GeekWire. "However, how can well-being be integrated into this business model? I believe that some level of regulation is necessary to encourage or even compel companies to incorporate well-being considerations."

There is growing pressure from legal actions and legislative initiatives to address the impact of social media.

In May, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy expressed concerns about the detrimental influence of social media on the mental health crisis among the nation's youth.

Even before Murthy's statement, two Washington state school districts filed lawsuits in January against Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms. They sought damages to assist in meeting the rising demand for mental health services in their schools and urged these companies to cease actions that allegedly contribute to the crisis.

Lawmakers in various states, including California, Texas, Arkansas, Montana, and Utah, have enacted legislation focused on enhancing children's safety and privacy on social media. However, some of these efforts have faced legal challenges based on First Amendment grounds.