State AG Group Probing Meta, Instagram

A bipartisan group of state attorneys general is investigating whether Meta violated consumer protection laws by promoting Instagram despite knowledge of the platform’s association with physical and mental health harms, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D) announced Thursday. AGs from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont joined the investigation. Ohio filed a lawsuit separately (see 2111150052). The new probe targets the “techniques utilized by Meta to increase the frequency and duration of engagement by young users and the resulting harms caused by such extended engagement,” said the office for Missouri's Eric Schmitt (R). "These accusations are false and demonstrate a deep misunderstanding of the facts,” a Meta spokesperson emailed. “While challenges in protecting young people online impact the entire industry, we’ve led the industry in combating bullying and supporting people struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and eating disorders.”