Meta, the tech giant behind Instagram, is facing a major legal battle as 33 US states accuse the company of intentionally designing features that contribute to addiction and harm children's mental wellbeing.
The Allegations
The lawsuit claims Instagram's algorithms and features like infinite scroll and push notifications were deliberately engineered to keep young users hooked, despite internal research showing potential negative effects on mental health.
What the Research Shows
Internal documents reportedly reveal Meta's own studies found Instagram could worsen body image issues, particularly among teenage girls, with 32% of young women saying the platform made them feel worse about their bodies.
Meta's Response
The company has defended its practices, stating it's invested heavily in tools to support young users and their families. However, critics argue these measures don't address the fundamental design issues.
Growing Regulatory Pressure
This lawsuit comes amid increasing global scrutiny of social media platforms' impact on children, with several countries considering stricter regulations for tech companies.
