Instagram Faces $5 Million Lawsuit for Exposing Teenagers to Harmful Content

Instagram and its parent company, Meta, are now facing a potential $5 million class-action lawsuit as teenagers accused the platform of exposing them to harmful content and impacting their mental health.

First reported by The Washington Post, a 13-year-old girl has filed a complaint on the California District Court demanding accountability from Instagram for causing her to suffer anxiety, depression, and lower grades due to the results of her Instagram page.

Instagram 'Likes' Counter Harm Teenagers' Mental Health, Lawsuit Claims

The lawsuit claimed that Meta knowingly exposed teenagers to harmful content by implementing display counts on Instagram posts to make it enticing for teenagers.

If the case passes, the complainant intends to share the $5 million to all teenagers affected by these Instagram features.

In response, Meta spokesperson Liza Crenshaw reiterated the platform's continuous efforts to provide teens and children with a safe experience on social media.

This includes the rollout of parental control features, age verification systems, and other safety restrictions to prevent adults from preying on vulnerable children.

Meta Faces Legal Troubles on Keeping Platforms Safe for Children

The case from the 13-year-old girl was not the first time a lawsuit was filed on Meta and its platforms on behalf of its teenage users as safety concerns continue to pile up against the company.

Since 2021 when Facebook whistleblower France Haugen accused the platform of knowing that Instagram worsen people's body-image issues, Meta has been receiving heightened scrutiny from lawmakers, parents, and advocacy groups.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was even urged to make an apology to affected families during the Senate hearing on online child safety as US lawmakers grilled tech leaders for the "online child sexual exploitation crisis."

The Instagram owner is currently facing hundreds of lawsuits, among which were from 41 state governments, demanding proper accountability from the platform.