Coloradan sues Meta as company puts more protections in place for youth
A 21-year-old Colorado Springs is suing Meta, the parent company of social media giants Instagram and Facebook.
Taylor Little claims that her time spent on Instagram when they were just 11 years old has led to a string of mental health issues, including self-harm, an eating disorder, and even multiple suicide attempts.
This comes as Colorado's Attorney General has joined a multi-state lawsuit against Meta, highlighting their social media platforms as harmful and addictive for kids.
Little, who joined Instagram at the young age of 11, admitted to lying about their age to create an account. They claim that the platform was quick to suggest inappropriate content, such as graphic photos of self-harm. As a child struggling with mental health issues, Little fell into a dangerous spiral of addictive behavior, scrolling through images of self-harm and eventually developing an eating disorder and a bipolar disorder.
Little took a stand against Meta by filing a lawsuit, stating that the company's "engagement-driven business model and intentionally addictive product design" have created a "public health crisis" for pre-teen and teenage girls.
Little's case is just one of many similar cases being brought against Meta across the country, with other young individuals also speaking out about the negative impact of social media on their mental health.
In response to these claims and lawsuits, Meta has introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families who use their platforms. These tools include defaulting users under 16 to private accounts, limiting sensitive content, and providing parental supervision tools and break reminders.
Meta says they have also taken steps to address the issue of harmful content by sharing tips and resources for those searching for terms related to self-harm or suicide.
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Many have argued that the responsibility also lies with parents to monitor their children's social media usage and approve their app downloads. Meta supports federal legislation that would require app stores to obtain parental approval for any apps downloaded by children under 16.
They have also called for collaboration with legislators to develop industry-wide standards for social media platforms. Meta points out that teens also use platforms like TikTok and YouTube, and they said the social media platforms should develop industry-wide standards.
Little hopes that their lawsuit will not only bring justice for themselves but also help protect other young individuals from the harmful effects of social media.