41 States File Suit Against Meta.

[bjl584]

Lawsuit against Meta: States say Facebook, Instagram harms teens, kids (usatoday.com)

[disneysteve]

They're not wrong. In fact, I think social media is just as bad for adults' mental health, but adults are expected to be responsible for their own behavior while kids and teens whose brains aren't fully developed yet don't totally have that capacity. I'm not really sure what the answer is, though. It would be impossible to ban minors from the internet and it's equally impossible to scrub all social media of any harmful content. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[mumof2]

I'm sorry but the world has gone to crap...thats all the kids see, they were stuck at home using the internet for everything...people can post what they want and so many people believe what they see...so many families are using their families and the internet to make money to me that is where the issue is...kids are thrust into that world by their parents at a very young age and don't know how to deal with it...then you have all the news about the wars, criminals stealing from stores etc, school shootings....this is why the kids have mental issues blame it on the world and what is happening not just the internet a lot of parents have a lot to answer for allowing their kids to be on the internet without supervision, or some just have no idea how thouse platforms work and some use their kids to make them money...the world is a very depressing place to live right now and there is hardly every any good news anywhere and kids are raised to be much more sensitive these days, they are sat in front of a tv or computer rather than go outside...kids barely work to buy what they want it is handed to them and they expect that....and seriously all facebook and inst would do is shut down and onother one will pop up and do the same thing...it will be a never ending cycle

[ua_guy]

I think the world is what it's always been, but the world is now on the internet. The internet experience for the average American household (and much of the developed world) is only about 30 years old, and look what it's become--for better, and worse.

Sure, sue the pants off Meta, X, TikTok, whatever, because they are likely complicit in monetizing the problem while eschewing responsibility. The problem, as I see it, is so many children (and adults) lack meaningful connections, and present, in-person heroes in their everyday lives to "follow". They get sucked into the internet and the dopamine cycle and it allows them to be led by something designed to make money and influence thought and lifestyle. A lawsuit against these companies might slap some hands.

This whole idea of the internet turning us into demons coincides with the disappearance of many social (in person!) activities over the last few decades. Bowling leagues, social clubs, dinner parties, church attendance (I loathe modern religion, but churches provided a forum for meaningful and positive fellowship and social anchoring). I don't think everything's gone to hell, but I do think we need to focus our valuable attention and time to more meaningful pursuits than scrolling.