New Hampshire’s attorney general has released an unredacted version of the state’s complaint against Meta Platforms, emphasizing the alleged harm caused to children by its platforms. The complaint accuses Meta of knowingly exploiting children’s vulnerabilities for profit. The state joined a coalition of attorneys general in lawsuits against Meta, citing internal research showing the negative impact of Instagram on teenagers’ mental health. Meta responded by stating its commitment to providing safe experiences for teens and highlighting the tools it has implemented. The company also argued that cross-industry standards should be established to address similar risks on other platforms. According to the attorney general, a significant portion of New Hampshire’s residents actively use Facebook and Instagram, resulting in substantial profits for Meta. The complaint also criticizes Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg for prioritizing speed over the well-being of young users. Flint McColgan reported
New Hampshire Attorney General Releases Unredacted Complaint Against Meta Platforms, Highlighting the Harms Inflicted on Children
New Hampshire’s attorney general, John Formella, has made public an unredacted version of the state’s complaint against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The move is aimed at emphasizing the fight against the alleged detrimental effects that Meta’s platforms have on children.
Formella stated, “The people of New Hampshire can now see that Meta’s own documents acknowledge the harms its platforms inflict on kids. Meta not only knows that its products exploit the vulnerabilities of children’s developing brains, it actively studies the most effective ways to ‘hack’ the brain chemistry of children for profit. We will continue to prosecute this matter to stop Meta’s unlawful conduct and protect New Hampshire’s kids.”
The state joined a coalition of 41 attorneys general, including Massachusetts’ AG Andrea Campbell, to file lawsuits against the California-based social media giant. The lawsuits claim that Meta intentionally designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook, addicting children and teenagers to the detriment of their mental and physical well-being.
The legal action follows newspaper reports dating back to 2021, which revealed Meta’s internal research confirming that the company knew about the harmful effects Instagram can have on teenagers, particularly teen girls, in terms of mental health and body image issues. One internal study cited by the complaint showed that 13.5% of teen girls claim that Instagram worsens thoughts of suicide, while 17% said it exacerbates eating disorders.
In response to the allegations, Meta shared a statement on October 24, expressing its commitment to providing safe and positive online experiences for teens. The company highlighted over 30 tools it has introduced to support teens and their families. These tools include setting teen accounts to private, using age-verification technology, providing parental supervision tools for time limits and monitoring blocked or reported users, and offering expert resources for sensitive topics.
Meta argued that the issues addressed in the lawsuits should be addressed through cross-industry standards, as other platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, which are equally popular among young people, present similar risks but have not been singled out in the complaints.
AG Formella revealed in the statement announcing the unredacted complaint that two-thirds of New Hampshire residents actively use Facebook, and over half use Instagram. The complaint also highlighted that Meta had made a profit of $540,000 from users identified as being connected to the state in 2023 alone.
The complaint emphasized that Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, who allegedly vetoed a plan to ban photo filters simulating plastic surgery effects, once said, “‘Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.’ True to that ethos, in its rush to ‘move fast enough,’ Meta has frequently been ‘breaking’ the mental health, well-being, and trust of its youngest users.”
By making the complaint public, New Hampshire’s attorney general aims to shed light on the damaging effects Meta’s platforms have on children and continue the legal battle to halt Meta’s unlawful conduct and safeguard the well-being of New Hampshire’s children..