Agoura Hills and Westlake Village Meta Lawsuits Lawyers

Social media sites, such as Meta Platforms, Inc.’s Facebook and Instagram, allow people to connect with others in their communities and worldwide. But that’s not always a good thing, especially for younger users. Social media usage has been linked to the development and worsening of mental health issues amongst teens. The algorithm these sites use can lead to social media addiction and constant exposure to harmful and exploitative material. Self-harm, suicide, and other destructive behaviors in youths correlate with social media usage.

The troubling thing is that these platforms (Meta, in particular) were aware of the damaging effects of using their products but deliberately chose to put profits over safety. Their negligence and disregard for the welfare of teens should not go unaddressed. Parents and loved ones of youths who have been hurt because of exposure to content on social media sites may pursue personal injury lawsuits, such as wrongful death or product liability, against these companies. Taking legal action can allow families to recover compensation and hold the organizations accountable for the psychological and physical harm they have caused.

At Bradley/Grombacher LLP, our attorneys Agoura Hills and Westlake Village can assist with filing a lawsuit against Meta. Backed by over 50 years of combined experience, we have the knowledge and skills to develop persuasive and comprehensive legal strategies for our clients. We want to seek justice for you and your family.

Millions of teens daily log onto one or multiple social media platforms. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, about 32% of young people use Meta’s Facebook, and around 60% use Instagram.

These sites have some benefits, such as giving teens a way to express themselves and communicate with others. However, they also carry significant harm. Young people are exposed to bullying, rumors, unrealistic body images, sexual material, and other damaging content. And this content keeps coming to them because social media platforms use algorithms that recommend additional posts similar to ones the user liked or viewed previously.

Because teenagers’ brains are still developing and they are at a point in their lives where they are trying to discover who they are as individuals, they are more likely to accept information coming at them, even if it is harmful, and make poor decisions about what to do with the information.

Constant exposure to damaging content on social media can lead to the following in youths:

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• Anxiety,
• Depression,
• Sleep disorders,
• Behavioral changes,
• Harmful thoughts against themselves or others, and
• Suicidality.

According to one study, suicide rates and self-harm thoughts in teens have increased along with their social media usage.

The way Meta’s platforms are designed fosters addiction to these sites. Continual scrolling and 24-hour notification algorithms, among other features, make it difficult for youths to step away from social media and the harmful content it exposes them to.

If you or a loved one was harmed because of social media usage, speak with our Agoura Hills and Westlake Village lawyers about your legal options. Contact us at (866) 881-0403.

Recently, Meta has come under fire for its business practices that allow teens to be exploited and bombarded with damaging images and posts, increasing the risk of suicide or other harmful behaviors. Families who have lost children and individuals who have developed eating disorders and other mental health conditions because of social media usage are raising their voices and demanding that Meta and other platforms modify their practices and offer greater protections for younger users.

Unsettling is the fact that Meta knew about the harm its platform causes to teens. In 2021, a former Facebook employee leaked the company’s internal research acknowledging that it contributed to mental health issues and negative body image. Wrongful death and product liability lawsuits against Meta point to these documents as evidence of the company’s negligence, as it knew what it was doing and causing amongst youths but failed to provide any safeguards against it.

Meta should not get away with knowingly putting one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations at risk. It should be held accountable for damaging the lives of younger users, their families, and loved ones. Filing a lawsuit against the company can send a message that its actions are no longer tolerated.