A bipartisan group of attorneys general from 42 different U.S. states has come together to protect children from a social media-fueled mental health crisis.
Apparently, the company has been using algorithms on Facebook and Instagram to “exploit and manipulate” children to engage in addictive behaviors that harm their self-esteem, body image, and mental health.
And it did all this just to chase profits. But our kids’ mental health isn’t for sale.
Experts say Meta specifically crafted “dopamine-manipulating” features to keep kids hooked on its apps, endlessly scrolling and absorbing detrimental content. Its apps highlight social comparison that worsens body dysmorphia. Internal documents show that 32% of teen girls felt worse about their bodies after using Instagram.
This isn’t news to Zuckerberg or other leaders at Meta.
According to New York Attorney General Letitia James and her office, “Meta’s own internal research documents show its awareness that its products harm young users.”
In fact, Meta commissioned this research — and then buried it until a whistleblower leaked the documents, publicly revealing that “Meta has known for years about these serious harms associated with young users’ time spent on its platforms.”