SOCIAL MEDIA KEEPS TEENS PLUGGED IN AND OUT OF TOUCH

A new lawsuit claims social media’s most popular platforms; Instagram, Snapchat and Tiktok are fueling mental health disorders in teenage users.

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Social media giants Meta (Instagram), Snapchat and Tiktok have recently been slammed with a new lawsuit. It’s no secret that social media’s effect on society as a collective and today’s youth has an impressionable and damaging effect on teenagers.

The legal consequences of what happens on social media platforms have been shielded from companies for decades. The industry is concerned that recent changes in public opinion and court rulings might change this.

According to the Headspace National Youth Mental Health Survey, 57% of young people believe their mental health is deteriorating, with 42% blaming it on social media.

The latest lawsuits assert product liability claims to navigate around Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This section shields tech companies from liability for third-party content. The lawsuit is the latest in a string of lawsuits linking social media with mental health problems in minors.

Taking Accountability

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Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen admitted in her testimony to Congress, that her company knew its products were addictive to kids. She reveals that their mental stability has suffered as a result. In a legal complaint filed by the Social Media Victims Law Centre, the file says;
” social media and electronic device use associated with major mental health injuries, including depression, self-harm, eating disorders, suicide attempts and ideation, dissatisfaction with life, depression, and sleep deprivation.”
Allegations include strict liability, negligence, unjust enrichment, and invasion of privacy. Additional lawsuits have come out via the Social Media Law Centre dealing with multiple identical suits. The complaint goes on to express the importance of protecting young people’s mental health. Social media platforms often generate towards maximizing user engagement rather than safeguarding users’ health and ensuring safe and healthy interactions between them.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, help is always available at Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

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