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(Des Moines, IA) -- The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is being sued by the State of Iowa.
The lawsuit accuses Meta of breaking Iowa's consumer protection laws by making sexually explicit content readily available to minors.
It also claims Instagram is addictive and promotes child porn and the sextortion of teens.
“Instagram says their content is safe for kids. It’s not. And Instagram was designed to get our children addicted to it, causing harm to their mental health and physical safety,” said Attorney General Brenna Bird.
“What’s worse, they know it is harming children, but deliberately continue to hide the truth from parents, saying it is safe for kids to use. As a prosecutor and a mom, I am committed to protecting the rights of all Iowans. Social media companies must comply with our state laws and prioritize the safety and privacy of all Iowans, especially our most vulnerable. ”
Meta released the following statement in response to the lawsuit filed by the Iowa Attorney General:
“We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people. For over a decade, we’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most. We use these insights to make meaningful changes—like introducing Teen Accounts with built-in protections and providing parents with tools to manage their teens’ experiences. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and we’re always working to do better.”--a Meta spokesperson.
The Iowa lawsuit comes just weeks after an L-A jury found Meta responsible for creating a platform that was addictive, causing the depression and anxiety of a woman who used social media at a young age.
Meta says it respectfully disagrees with the verdict and will appeal.