Massachusetts Sues Meta Over Addictive Features

United States — Massachusetts State Police' highest court heard oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Andrea Campbell against Meta Platforms. The lawsuit alleges that Meta Platforms designed features on Meta Platforms and Meta Platforms — Instagram to be addictive to young users for profit, affecting hundreds of thousands of teenagers in United States — Massachusetts State Police. State Solicitor David Kravitz argued that the claims are based on Meta Platforms' tools that encourage addiction, not algorithms or content moderation. Meta Platforms, represented by attorney Mark Mosier, strongly disagrees with the allegations, asserting that the lawsuit would impose liabilities for traditional publishing functions protected by the First Amendment. Several judges expressed concerns about Meta Platforms' notification functions rather than content. This lawsuit is part of broader federal and state legal actions against Meta Platforms, including a 2023 joint lawsuit by 33 states concerning data collection on children under 13. Reports, including one by The Wall Street Journal, have previously highlighted Meta Platforms' awareness of Meta Platforms — Instagram's potential harms to teenagers' mental health. Critics, including former employee Arturo Bejar, argue that Meta Platforms has not taken sufficient steps to address teen safety concerns.