Meta, TikTok and Snap have been hit by three new lawsuits accusing them of causing mental health problems among their teenage users. The plaintiffs are among a wave of parents and children who are taking social media platforms to court, claiming the companies are not just withholding users, but doing so knowing they are harmed.
The lawsuit, the latest in a series of cases linking social media to mental health issues among minors, alleges product liability violates Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal law that protects technology companies from liability. derived from third party content. parties. They theorize that platforms like Facebook are inherently flawed products that cause harm, including eating disorders, anxiety and suicide. At least 20 such lawsuits have been filed across the country over the Facebook Documents, a collection of internal company documents leaked by whistleblower Francis Haugen last year, with dozens more expected.
“It is the business model used by all defendants (engagement and growth over user safety) as evidence of the inherently insecure design and functionality of their social media products,” said one of the complaints, filed Thursday in Superior Court. from Los Angeles. “At any time, any of these defendants could have filed and shared this information with the public, but they knew it would give their competitors an edge and/or mean major changes to their products and track record.” Defendants chose to continue causing harm and instead concealed the truth.”
The applicants point to the characteristics of the platforms’ products. They argue that business algorithms amplify dangerous content that prioritizes compromise over security.
By avoiding claims that focus on specific content hosted by platforms, they circumvent potential Section 230 immunity. Historically, the law has provided important legal protections for technology companies from liability as third-party publishers. A key decision on the law, which could be reformed, came last year when a federal appeals court ruled that Snap could not use Section 230 to defend itself against a lawsuit that alleged the company’s speed feature design contributed to a fatal accident. accident. Encouraging speeding. “Plaintiff’s claims do not arise from third-party content, but from the features and design of Defendants’ products, including, but not limited to, algorithms and other product features that rely on underage users to enhance and facilitate social comparisons. [and] Affirmatively select and distribute malicious content to vulnerable users based on their individual demographics and social media activity,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit says the lack of parental controls is a feature, not a bug, of the platforms. The minimum age to join TikTok is 13 years old. Still, the company said in 2020 that a third of its 49 million daily users were 14 or younger, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs allege that the platforms intentionally fail to verify and verify the authenticity of the email account.
Another accusation is that the platforms know that teens are opening multiple accounts in violation of their terms of service, but allow them to do so in order to grow. The lawsuit alleges that Snapchat’s failure to enforce the single-account rule contributed to bullying among users.
“Each of Defendant’s products is designed to prevent parents from exercising their right to protect and monitor the health and well-being of their children,” the complaint states. “Defendants’ products are designed to allow children to escape parental control.”
The claims allege strict liability, negligence, unjust enrichment and invasion of privacy. One of the plaintiffs, the mother of a child who committed suicide, is also bringing an intentional emotional distress lawsuit against TikTok.
The lawsuit was filed by the Social Media Victims Law Center, which represents dozens of other plaintiffs in identical lawsuits across the country.
Facebook, TikTok and Snap did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
