Intro
In this episode of “The Daily,” the focus is on the lawsuits filed against social media giant Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The attorneys general of several US states accuse Meta of knowingly harming the mental health of young social media users, drawing parallels to the strategies used against big tobacco. The podcast explores the addictive nature of social media, the impact on young people, and the allegations against Meta.
Main Takeaways
Concerns about Social Media’s Impact on Young People
- Dozens of US states have filed lawsuits against Meta, accusing the company of knowingly harming the mental health of young social media users.
- The attorneys general view the case against Meta as a case about severe health harms and hazards to young people, similar to the way states viewed the health hazards and harms to young people with cigarettes or opioids.
- The scale of the investigation and the way the states are banding together to investigate and the kind of parallel lawsuits they filed is right out of the big tobacco playbook.
- The parallel to the tobacco industry is that Meta has been allowed to addict children to a product that interferes with their mental and physical health.
- The question of whether social media is addictive at the heart of this case will have to be proven, but the content is different from the tobacco industry as social media has many good uses.
Design and Effects of Social Media Platforms
- Social media platforms use psychology to keep users engaged.
- Former executives warn about how social media hacks users’ psyches.
- Meta’s plan to develop Instagram for kids causes alarm.
- Lawsuits accuse Meta, particularly Instagram, of deliberately designing addictive features that harm children.
- Instagram’s design includes addictive features that do not have a natural end, making it hard for young people to get off the platform.
- Notifications on Instagram provide dopamine hits and social pressure to check new posts and stories.
- The lawsuits allege that these features have a pernicious effect on young people, leading to increased depression, anxiety, isolation, loneliness, and body dissatisfaction, particularly among young women.
- Instagram’s beauty filters have been cited as actively encouraging young girls to hate their bodies.
- The platform has concrete harms, including bullying and unwanted sexual advances, with 22% of 13 to 15-year-olds reporting being bullied on the platform within the last week.
- The states are accusing Meta of knowingly concealing these harms.
Meta’s Knowledge and Actions
- Meta regularly did research on teen mental health and knew they were experiencing harms, yet executives testified they cared about their well-being.
- Meta employees proposed ways to mitigate problems, but proposals were often shut down by bosses.
- Meta’s research found that teen users often compare their likes to their friends, leading to negative outcomes.
- Meta did a test program called project Daisy to hide like counts and found it reduced negative feelings, but ultimately did not take away likes.
- There was a profit motive for not taking away likes, but an opt-in option was offered despite knowing it wouldn’t make a difference.
- Mark Zuckerberg vetoed the proposal to formally ban plastic surgery camera filters, despite knowing the potential harm they could cause.
- Meta made it easy for users under 13 to sign up for Instagram accounts, resulting in millions of violations of federal children’s privacy laws.
- Meta-designed Instagram to be addictive and rejected employee requests to make it better for kids.
- Meta has made a major investment in protecting young people on their platforms, with over 30 tools and resources to keep them safe.
- Meta claims that the state’s complaint is cherry-picked and doesn’t provide real context for how the company operates and makes decisions.
- Meta rejects comparison to tobacco, claims their apps add value to people’s lives.
Legal Challenges and Implications
- States’ case against Meta is not a slam dunk, hard to prove distinct accusations.
- Section 230 allows digital services to curate speech and content, social media companies argue they’re entitled to curate content as they see fit.
- States are investigating TikTok for similar practices as Meta, hoping to use lawsuits to cause change in social media platforms.
- Outcome of case against tobacco companies led to public perception of cigarettes as dangerous.
- Social media is problematic and parents struggle to keep their kids off their devices.
- Attorneys general want social media companies to turn off or dial back habit-forming features for kids.
Summary
Concerns about Social Media’s Impact on Young People
The attorneys general of several US states have filed lawsuits against Meta, accusing the company of knowingly harming the mental health of young social media users. They draw parallels to the strategies used against big tobacco, viewing the case as a matter of severe health harms and hazards to young people. While the addictive nature of social media is at the heart of the case, it is important to note that social media also has many positive uses.
Design and Effects of Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms, including Instagram, use psychological tactics to keep users engaged. The addictive features and design of Instagram, such as endless scrolling and dopamine-inducing notifications, make it difficult for young people to disengage. The lawsuits allege that these features have detrimental effects on mental health, leading to increased depression, anxiety, isolation, and body dissatisfaction. Instagram’s beauty filters have also been criticized for promoting negative body image. Additionally, the platform has concrete harms, including bullying and unwanted advances.
Meta’s Knowledge and Actions
The lawsuits claim that Meta was aware of the harms caused by their platforms through their own research on teen mental health. However, executives testified that they cared about the well-being of their users. Despite proposals from employees to mitigate problems, Meta often rejected them. For example, a test program to hide like counts showed positive results, but Meta ultimately did not remove likes due to profit motives. The company also made it easy for underage users to sign up for Instagram accounts, violating federal children’s privacy laws.
Legal Challenges and Implications
The case against Meta presents legal challenges, as social media companies argue that they have the right to curate content under Section 230. States are also investigating TikTok for similar practices and hope that these lawsuits will bring about changes in social media platforms. The outcome of the case against tobacco companies serves as a precedent for public perception, as cigarettes are now widely recognized as dangerous. Parents struggle to manage their children’s social media usage, and attorneys general are calling for habit-forming features to be dialed back for kids.
Conclusion
The lawsuits against Meta raise important questions about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. While social media has its benefits, the addictive design and harmful features of certain platforms cannot be ignored. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the regulation and accountability of social media companies. As the legal battle unfolds, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of young users and find a balance between the positive aspects and potential harms of social media.
