Companies

Meta Platforms Allegedly Designed Social Media to Hook Children, Amidst Millions of Unaddressed Complaints

Published November 27, 2023

In recent revelations stemming from court documents, Meta Platforms, Inc. META, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, has come under scrutiny for purportedly designing its social media platforms with the intention of hooking children. These alarming allegations also disclose that META was aware of, but did not adequately address, millions of user complaints concerning underage accounts on its popular platform, Instagram. Despite the volume of reported issues, it appears only a portion of these accounts were disabled.

Impact on META's Social Responsibility

This news presents a challenging ethical dilemma for META, as it raises questions about the company's commitment to social responsibility and the measures it takes to protect underage users. Meta Platforms, known for connecting people through a variety of digital devices, faces growing concern over how its applications may affect younger audiences and the adequacy of their safeguards for minors.

Fallout for Investors and Stakeholders

Investors and stakeholders of META may find these revelations concerning, as they could potentially lead to a public relations fallout or legal actions, impacting the company's image and financial performance. The allegations that Meta intentionally engineered its platforms to be addictive to children and the lack of transparency surrounding the handling of complaints are serious issues that the company will have to address moving forward.

Meta, Allegations, Children