Lawsuit alleges social media giant prioritises growth over user safety
Life
Image: Getty via Dennis
According to recently disclosed court documents, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, halted a study that demonstrated psychological harm caused by its platforms. The project showed that users who took a week-long break from Facebook and Instagram experienced fewer feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison pressure.
Despite these findings, Meta chose to discontinue the project rather than publish the results. The company denied accusations of suppressing the research findings, stating that the discontinuation was driven by concerns about the study’s methodology.
The revelations are part of a larger lawsuit filed by US school districts against Meta. Plaintiffs claim that Meta prioritised user growth over the safety of young people, intentionally rendered safety features ineffective, and obstructed efforts to combat child exploitation.
The lawsuit also cited a specific case where a user account was only removed after 17 documented attempts at sexual exploitation. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is quoted as saying that protecting children was not his top priority, as he was focusing on developing the metaverse.
A Meta spokesperson dismissed these allegations as “quotes taken out of context and opinions based on misinformation”. He emphasised the effectiveness of the security measures that the company has implemented.
A hearing is scheduled for 26 January in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
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