US EditionIowa Attorney General Sues Meta, Claims Instagram Is Harming Children
The state says Instagram exposed children to explicit content and addictive features, and seeks injunctions and penalties under Iowa consumer protection law.
- On Wednesday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird sued Meta in Polk County District Court, alleging the company violates state consumer protection laws by misrepresenting Instagram and Facebook as safe for children.
- The lawsuit challenges Instagram's age ratings, which claim content is "infrequent/mild" for users as young as 12 or 13, despite the state alleging explicit material is readily available on the platform.
- Bird claims Instagram is designed to be addictive and "allow rampant profanity, sexual content and nudity, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and references, and mature/suggestive themes" including readily accessible hardcore pornography.
- A Meta spokesperson stated the company "strongly disagree with these allegations," citing their "longstanding commitment to supporting young people" and recent introduction of Teen Accounts with built-in protections.
- This filing follows recent jury verdicts in California and New Mexico requiring Meta to pay nearly $400 million for addictive features, and echoes a pending Iowa lawsuit against TikTok regarding platform safety.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Iowa AG sues Meta, claims Instagram is harmful to children
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in Polk County District Court. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, claims Instagram presents itself as safe for children and teenagers in Iowa, despite the availability of explicit content. The suit also claims Meta [...]
Iowa attorney general sues Meta over Instagram's impact on children
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird accuses the social media company of violating consumer protection laws by promoting Instagram as safe for children despite explicit content and addictive design.
Iowa Attorney General sues Meta over consumer protection laws
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed a lawsuit against Meta and several of its subsidiaries, including Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuit alleges Meta is breaking Iowa’s consumer protection laws as Instagram represents itself as being safe for children and teenagers, but says explicit content is readily available on the platform. The state asserts that […]
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