Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta faces lawsuit in Massachusetts for features designed to addict teens
A Massachusetts judge has dismissed Meta Platforms’ request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state, which alleges that the social media giant intentionally designed features on its Instagram platform to addict young users and misled the public about the associated mental health risks for teenagers.
In a ruling made public on Friday, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp upheld claims brought forth by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, asserting that Meta violated state consumer protection laws and created a public nuisance. The decision reinforces the state’s commitment to holding tech companies accountable for their impact on youth mental health.
Meta and a spokesperson for Attorney General Campbell did not provide immediate comments on the ruling.
This decision follows a recent development in California, where a federal judge also rejected Meta’s attempt to dismiss similar lawsuits from over 30 states, which accuse the company of exacerbating mental health issues among teenagers through addictive platform designs.
Massachusetts is among a select number of states pursuing these claims in state court, having filed the lawsuit in October 2023. The case gained significant attention due to serious allegations concerning Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s purported obstruction of initiatives aimed at mitigating potential harms to adolescents on its platforms.
As the legal battle continues, the implications for Meta and its social media platforms could reshape the landscape of digital responsibility and youth protection in the tech industry.
