Meta Must Face Massachusetts's Lawsuit Regarding Social Media Addiction

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell (photo: x @MassAGO)

JAKARTA Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook's parent company and Instagram, had to face a lawsuit from the state of Massachusetts accusing the company of deliberately using features on the Instagram platform to make young users addicted and deceive the public about the dangers posed to teens' mental health. This decision was announced by Judge Peter Krupp of the Suffolk County High Court in Boston on Friday, October 18.

Meta previously asked the court to reject a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, who claimed that Meta violated state consumer protection laws and created public interference. However, the judge rejected the request, allowing the case to continue.

Meta argued that the lawsuit was unacceptable under the 1996 Communications Competency Act, which generally protects internet companies from lawsuits related to content posted by users.

However, Judge Krupp stated that the law does not apply to false statements Meta allegedly made regarding Instagram safety, attempts to protect the well-being of young users, or age verification systems to ensure users under 13 cannot use the platform.

Attorney General Campbell welcomed this decision and said the state could now continue its demands to hold Meta accountable and encourage significant changes on their platform to protect young users.

The Meta spokesperson stated that the company disagreed with the ruling, but was confident that evidence would show their commitment to supporting the welfare of young people.

This lawsuit came to the spotlight after allegations that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ignored concerns about the potential negative impact Instagram has on its users. Features such as notifications, "like" on user posts, and relentless scrolling are considered designed to take advantage of teens' psychological vulnerability.