More than 40 states have filed a lawsuit in federal court against Meta, claiming that the social media company has harmed young people’s mental health.

In the lawsuit, the states allege that the company has profited from how it has designed Instagram and Facebook to maximize time spent on the platforms by teens and children, which led to increased advertising revenue. The suit cites several studies including Meta’s own research showing links between young people's use of social media with depression, anxiety, and other health issues. The states are seeking financial damages, restitution, and an end to Meta’s practices that are in violation of the law.

Today, a third of teenagers in the U.S. report using social media “almost constantly.” In 2021, a Facebook employee leaked internal research on Facebook products. One set of documents about Instagram’s impact on teens found that “thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse.”