US states sue Meta claiming social platforms harming children’s mental health

(Thibault Camus/PA)

Dozens of US states are suing Meta for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in California also claims that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.