Are Meta Platforms Inc. and Snap Inc. to blame for the suicide of an 11-year-old who suffered from depression and sleep deprivation after becoming addicted to Instagram and Snapchat, the girl’s mother alleged in a lawsuit.
If the parent prevails in this case it would be a huge precedent-setting case, not dissimilar to the Perdue opioid settlement for opioids.
The case will require evidence from experts in addictive behavior. Some neuroscientists have published evidence (Andrew Doan, MD, Ph.D.). Dr. Doan is an ophthalmologist, whose Ph.D. thesis included addictive behavior in video gamers. He also authored "Hooked on Games"
The complaint appears to be the first of its kind against Meta, formerly known as Facebook Inc., said attorney Matthew Bergman, who founded Social Media Victims Law Center in Seattle and represents Rodriguez’s mother.
“There is a mental health epidemic among American teens,” Bergman said. He added that he anticipates a significant number of similar cases will be filed after a former Facebook employee turned whistle-blower testified in Congress in October that the company knew about, but didn’t disclose, the harmful impacts of services like Instagram.
This is unacceptable behavior behind the curtain of 'freedom of speech' and unaccountability. Despite Meta and Snapchat's disavowal of responsibility, there is a growing concern about their effect on morals. Young children's perception of reality becomes confused with virtual reality during their formative years.
Unguided children self treat their anxiety and fear on the internet.
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