Over 30 US states sue Meta, kids and teens being targeted
This week, a Money Mongers study found that Meta apps, including Facebook, Instagram and Threads, are more invasive than any others, while over in the United States this week, 42 attorneys general are suing the tech giant for its alleged addictive features that deliberately target kids and teens.
Meta is facing a federal lawsuit from 33 states, including California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, South Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin.
The attorneys general allege that Meta’s Facebook and Instagram are designed to keep young users on them for longer and more consistently, via the design of its algorithms, alerts, notifications and ‘infinite scroll’.
Features including likes and photo filters are also alleged to negatively impact teens’ mental health – through promoting body dysmorphia and social comparison.
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, by collecting personal data on users under the age of 13 without parental consent.
In Australia, proposed changes to the Privacy Act will see children’s advertising and data collection significantly change – including the introduction of our own Children’s Online Privacy Code.
Organisations in Australia will be prohibited from targeting and directly marketing to children, and trading in their personal information. The introduction of a Children’s Online Privacy Code will ensure their best interests are considered when their personal information is handled.
A Meta spokesperson told Mumbrella: “We share 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 news comes as Money Mongers’ recent study found Meta apps to be the most invasive when it comes to mining and sharing the personal data of its users.
Its platforms – Instagram, Threads, Facebook and Messenger – shared 86% of its users’ private information, up 21% from the closest offender, LinkedIn.
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