30 U.S. states sue Meta over youth platform safety

Thirty U.S. states have filed a joint lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., alleging that the company’s Facebook, Instagram and Threads services fail to protect minors from harmful content and unlawful data collection. The complaint, signed by attorneys general from states ranging from California to New York, asserts that Meta’s platforms violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Federal Trade Commission’s 2022 settlement, which required the firm to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from users under 13. The states seek a court order mandating an overhaul of Meta’s youth‑focused features, including mandatory age verification, robust parental‑control tools, restrictions on algorithmic recommendation of potentially harmful material, and a ban on targeted advertising to users under 18.

Meta has responded that it already offers parental‑control settings and age‑gating mechanisms, and that it will defend the lawsuit while reviewing the plaintiffs’ demands. Legal experts note that the case could force the company to redesign its user‑experience for younger audiences and may set a precedent for broader regulatory action against social‑media firms. The lawsuit is expected to proceed through the federal courts, with a hearing slated for later this year, and could have significant implications for how tech platforms handle children’s data and safety nationwide.