Today, Meta settled with a plethora of states for over 17 billion dollars and a mandate to change their predatory design practices, after knowingly designing their platforms to addict and manipulate millions of young people. Below is a statement from our co-founder and Advocacy Director, Mick Tobin:
"Today, state attorneys general did what Congress has been unable to do for years. They delivered justice for the teens and families Meta has knowingly harmed for almost a decade.
But this settlement only exists because of Congress's failure to pass youth online safety legislation. States sued because there was no federal design standard forcing these changes. If Congress had passed KOSA years ago, safety-by-design protections would already be law, and states wouldn't need litigation to mandate design changes one company at a time. We shouldn't need lawsuits to make our government prioritize young people.
We learned that when faced with an impartial discovery process and the threat of real legal consequences, Meta cannot credibly deny the evidence against it. When political agendas and unlimited lobbying are stripped away, and the well-being of teens comes first, meaningful protections follow.
AGs clearly understand the stakes and have acted in the interest of young users, not Big Tech. Congress must too. Follow the courts and states that have passed social media protections, ignore the industry's talking points, and act now.
The settlement hands Congress a blueprint for common sense, bipartisan safety by design requirements that Meta itself is willing to implement. Federal safety legislation must ensure these and other crucial design practices are implemented industry-wide and create liability for companies that sidestep safety.
Youth, parent, and civil society groups stand ready to work with federal lawmakers to pass strong safety legislation. Until then, we will continue to hold these companies accountable in court and cut their bottom line as long as they choose to push dangerous products on our friends, families, and communities."
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About Young People's Alliance: Young People's Alliance is a bipartisan, Gen Z-led nonprofit with 4,000+ members across 90+ campuses in 16 states. The organization is focused on creating a new American Dream through advocacy on creating opportunity, affordability, and community for young people.
Contact: press@youngpeoplesalliance.org