A 20-year-old girl in US has filed a case against social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, in which she alleges that these companies compromise children’s health and create problems like depression and stress.
The girl, identified as Kelly GM in court to protect her identity, has alleged that excessive use of social media in her childhood has seriously affected her mental health. Constant use of the apps has led to problems like depression and stress, which led her to have suicidal thoughts.
Kelly’s lawyer claimed that social media companies have designed their platforms in such a way that users spend as much time there as possible. This is done by using methods such as algorithms, persistent notifications, scrolling, and personalised suggestions. The lawyer argued that these methods are mainly designed to target children and teenagers, so that they can easily get caught up in the charm of the apps.
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp; and Google, the company that owns YouTube, have denied all the allegations. The companies’ lawyers say that the mental health problems of the girl involved in the case were not only due to social media; other social situations, such as family problems and bullying in school and college, may also be responsible for it.
Several safety features are already implemented on social media platforms to protect users. Related to this case, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in the case next week. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri is also expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Does US law protect social media companies?
Social media companies claim legal protection under Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act. Under this law, companies are not directly liable for content posted by users on the platform. However, Kelly’s lawyer says that this case is not about the content, but about the design and algorithms of the platform, so this legal protection should not apply here.
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