While social media has been a huge help in connecting people from all over the world, it undoubtedly has negative effects as well. It has affected the mental health of young users and Meta is accused of putting its profits first before the wellbeing of its users.
Engagement at the Cost of Mental Health
Dozens of states have come together to file a lawsuit against Meta, claiming that the parent company of popular apps like Facebook and Instagram is putting profit first. The lawsuit has been filed in a California federal court.
It states that Meta has misled the public about the negative effects of its mainstream products on teens and children, wherein the company created a business model that encourages users to spend more time on the mentioned platforms, as per The Verge.
This was done through released features and incentives within the social networking sites, which include the concept of "likes" as well as not removing content that is related to eating disorders and bullying, which can become triggers for certain users.
This, in turn, contributed to the younger generations having mental health crises, with the lawsuit stating that "Meta has profoundly altered the psychological and social realities of a generation of young Americans" over the past decade.
Meta responded to the allegations, expressing that they share the attorney general's commitment to providing teens with safe and positive experiences online, and already introduced 30 tools to support teens and their families.
Company spokesperson Liza Crenshaw added that they are "disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path."
The complaint also brought up a leak from a Facebook whistleblower, stating that Meta has "harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens," exploiting and manipulating vulnerable customers.
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Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
Going through social media can sometimes be stressful, especially since there are tons of content there that can trigger anxiety, depression, and other unpleasant emotions. Statistics from 2020 show concerning rates of negative effects on people's mental health.
Since the release of smartphones, it has been much easier to access social media sites, and with the rise of accessibility, so have mental health problems. 38% of adults see social media use as harmful while 25% of teens say that it has a negative impact.
According to Etactics, patterns that point to social media have shown a 21% increase in depression in boys and a further 50% in girls between 2012 to 2015. The self-harm rate for girls has increased by an alarming 65%.
It has only gotten worse over the years, with 13% of children between 13 to 17 years old reporting depression and 32% reporting anxiety. Adults between 18 to 25 years old have also reported mental illness, all through high usage of social media.
About 59% of US teens experience some type of cyberbullying online, with 42% of them being called offensive names, 32% being the subject of fake rumors, 25% receiving unsolicited explicit images, and 16% receiving physical threats.
