What is happening
Two new lawsuits have been filed against Instagram’s parent company Meta, alleging that the photo and video sharing service harms mental health, especially among teenagers and children.
Why it matters
Meta is facing more pressure to address the issue after a Facebook whistleblower leaked an internal investigation into the company.
If you struggle with negative thoughts or suicidal feelings, there are resources available to help. IN USA, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; in the UK call Samaritans on 116 123; and in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also find help on these 13 Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotlines.
Instagram, a photo and video sharing app owned by Facebook’s parent company Meta, is facing new allegations that its platform is causing harmful effects on mental health, including depression, eating disorders and suicide attempts.
Two Kentucky families, represented by the Social Media Victims Legal Center, filed two lawsuits Monday against Meta in federal court in Northern California. Both lawsuits accuse the social media giant of prioritizing user engagement over safety and creating a “perfect storm of addiction, social comparison and exposure to incredibly harmful content and product features.”
“Despite knowledge of the dangerous and harmful characteristics of its product, Meta has made and continues to make calculated cost-benefit business decisions and has consistently prioritized its already astronomical profits over human life,” the lawsuits said.
The lawsuits are the latest complaints against Instagram after Frances Haugen, a Facebook product manager turned whistleblower, leaked an internal study, including about the harmful effects the app could have on teenage girls. Some of these documents are cited in court cases.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last year, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testified before Congress for the first time on the subject and said it was committed to keeping consumers safe. The company launched new parenting control in March began testing different types of feed including chronological and introduced a new way to verify this users are at least 13 years old.
All these steps have not been enough to appease Instagram’s critics, who say the platform is not doing enough to combat potentially harmful effects on mental health. Both lawsuits allege Meta engaged in deceptive business practices, accusing the company of lying to Congress and the public about the harmful effects of its products. Instagram exposed two of the plaintiffs, who were 12 when they joined the app, to content about eating disorders and made them think they weren’t good enough, according to the lawsuits. Both girls attempted suicide and one had to use a feeding tube because she refused to eat while in hospital.
Reuters, which previously reported on the lawsuits, said Meta faces at least nine other lawsuits that accuse the company of harming the mental health of minors.