Social Media
Self-harm, eating disorders, sexual exploitation, and suicide attempts are common in children with social media addiction.
Meta, Snapchat, and other social media companies have known for years that their products harm kids, yet continued to aggressively market to them, encouraging addictive behaviors, child exploitation, sexual abuse, the spread of child sex abuse material (CSAM), and various other harms for economic gain. Whether parents realize it or not, social media products are directly affecting young minds across the world in negative ways that go beyond social media addiction and. obsession. Facebook whistleblower, Francis Haugen states, “The company’s leadership knows how to make Facebook and Instagram safer, but won’t make the necessary changes because they put their astronomical profits before people.”
The Dangers of Social Media Addiction
Tweens and teens are constantly scrolling anxiously through social media, exposed to images of modified/filtered faces and bodies, extreme political antics, and sexualized content that leave them vulnerable to the pitfalls of society. Unconsciously addicted to technology, this new generation is an easy target for social media companies to keep them on the apps for extreme periods of time so that the companies can profit the most off of their victims. Social media products are an addictive trap for today’s kids, and these companies are well aware of the harms.
What was once meant to be a place for storytelling and sharing family-friendly content has now become a gateway for disturbing spirals to the dark side of social media products with no safeguards. Once tweens or teens become addicted to social media products, they are much more susceptible to being targeted by adult predators lurking within these social media products. These children begin to engage in riskier behaviors for attention, which can lead down a treacherous path that includes self-produced CSAM, sexual abuse, sextortion, and suicidal ideations.
Social Media Companies’ own Research Proves the Harms
Even Meta’s own research and employees reveal that their social media products are a cause of mental illnesses such as increased depression, suicidal ideation, and sleep deprivation, yet Meta continues to aggressively fuel this dangerous crisis. A recently leaked internal document shows that the reason Meta “care[s] about tweens” is because “[t]hey are a valuable but untapped audience.” Meta’s advanced computer algorithms and artificial intelligence products exploit young kids to increase Meta’s bottom line at the expense of children and their safety.
AWKO Attorneys have been in the Forefront of the Fight Against Social Media Companies
Our attorneys seek to hold social media companies liable for designing and marketing these products directly to kids under 18 years of age without warning of the life-threatening risks posed to their susceptible, developing minds. Further, these social media products collect private information of children under 13 without verifiable parental consent, which violates federal law.
Our entire legal team is dedicated to providing the utmost care and detail surrounding your case. From the moment you speak to one of our compassionate intake specialists to the final resolution of your claim, rest assured your case will receive the care and attention it deserves. If you or your child has suffered or is currently suffering from depression, body dysmorphia, sexual exploitation, or other mental health illnesses as a result of social media dependency while under the age of 18, please contact us today.
Our attorneys are ready to help. If you would like to learn how we use the civil justice system to hold companies accountable for their negligence, please contact us for a free and confidential consultation at (850) 202-1010. Social media companies have known for years that their products harm kids. Let’s bring justice to all children who have been exploited by these companies’ greed and negligence.
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