In a significant legal move, 33 US states, including California and Illinois, have filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms and its Instagram unit, accusing the tech giant of exacerbating a youth mental health crisis through the addictive nature of their social media platforms. The complaint, filed in the federal court in Oakland, California, claims that Meta, which also operates Facebook, knowingly induced young children and teenagers into addictive and compulsive social media use while misleading the public about the risks involved.
The Meta lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal actions against social media companies concerning the impact of their platforms on children and teenagers. Notably, ByteDance's TikTok and Google's YouTube have also faced hundreds of lawsuits, all raising concerns about the addictiveness of these platforms.
At the heart of the issue is the reinforcing nature of social media, which activates the brain's reward centre by releasing dopamine, a ’feel-good chemical‘ associated with pleasurable activities such as sex, food, and social interaction. These platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive, and research has linked their use to anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments.
According to the Pew Research Center, a significant portion of the US population, with 69 per cent of adults and 81 per cent of teenagers, uses social media, putting them at an increased risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, or physical health issues due to their usage.
One of the key factors driving users back to these platforms is the pursuit of positive feedback. People post content in the hope of receiving validation, and the potential for future rewards keeps them hooked. The fear of missing out (FOMO) also plays a pivotal role, as individuals worry about missing jokes, connections, or invitations if they don't stay active on social media.
Experiences of exclusion and isolation in the digital realm can have profound effects on mental and physical health. A 2018 British study found that social media use is associated with decreased, disrupted, and delayed sleep, which in turn is linked to depression, memory loss, and poor academic performance. Additionally, researchers have identified a direct connection between the mind and the gut, where anxiety and depression triggered by social media use can lead to symptoms such as nausea, headaches, muscle tension, and tremors.
It remains to be seen how this legal battle will progress, but it represents a pivotal moment in addressing the addictive nature of social media and its potential consequences on the well-being of youth globally.