New Jersey Files Lawsuit Against Facebook and Instagram

It's been a long time coming, and for anyone tuned into the digital landscape, this won't come as a surprise. The attorneys general from 42 states have taken action by filing a lawsuit against the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, honing in on their business practices.

I've been saying it for years – social media is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's a fantastic tool for staying connected with family and friends and for keeping up with local and national news. But let's face it; it can also mess with your head.

The pressure of thinking everyone's leading perfect lives, the unrealistic beauty standards, and the ceaseless fear of missing out can truly take a toll. It's super addictive and can be especially harmful, particularly for young individuals who are still trying to figure things out.

This lawsuit that New Jersey has signed on to spotlights a significant issue: their approach to 'controlling' algorithms on their platforms. These algorithms create an addictive environment that's intentionally designed to keep users glued – a phenomenon we call 'doomscrolling.' The platforms keep feeding you a never-ending stream of content, all designed to keep you hooked, with a notable focus on adolescents and teenagers.

We, as active participants on these platforms, know all too well how easy it is to get sucked in. You log in with the intention of a brief browse, and suddenly, an hour vanishes as you tumble down 15 different rabbit holes filled with mostly irrelevant content.

The lawsuit underscores the fact that Facebook and Instagram knowingly manipulate these algorithms, even when they're aware of the harm it causes. In particular, leaked slides from an internal Meta (Facebook and Instagram's parent company) study revealed that teenage girls perceive Instagram as a threat to their body image.

Several states are also now considering legal action against TikTok, alleging comparable misconduct within the platform.