Why have many US states sued Meta?
Many US states have sued Meta (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company), claiming that the company is harming kids by making Facebook and Instagram too addictive.
The states blame the company for using bad tricks to keep young people on their platforms for long periods, all to make more money. They haven't been honest about the dangers of their social media sites. The lawsuits aim to make Meta pay for the harm they've done and put an end to their unfair practices.
What more do the lawsuits say about harming children?
The US states have also accused Meta of breaking the law by collecting data from kids under 13. Meta also wants young people to use social media often, even though it can be addictive and make them feel less confident.
Social media platforms are made to keep users on them for a long time, make them compare themselves to others, see harmful content, etc. They also send lots of notifications to make sure young users come back to the platforms all day and night. They have filters that can make young users worry about how they look.
What is Meta’s response to this?
Meta said they don't like the lawsuit. They think they give kids a safe space to have a good time on the internet. They also made tools to help teens and families use social media platforms safely.
Has any other company faced such an issue or fine?
This isn't the first time something like this has happened to a company. Other companies, like Google-owned YouTube, got in trouble for how they handle kids' data. The recent lawsuit against Meta is because the US states want to keep kids safe.
Is using social media bad?
No, using social media is not all bad, especially if you have taken permission from your parents. Like everything, social media has good and bad things about it. It can help us talk to friends and family and can be good for businesses.
But if you use it too much, that's not good because it may have negative effects on your health. So, it depends on how a person uses it. You can learn more about it here.
