Earlier, interest-free loans were announced for Emiratis whose businesses were affected by the rains, with a grace period of 6 to 12 months
uae5 hours ago
Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc was hit with two new lawsuits Monday accusing it of fueling eating disorders and other mental health problems in teenage users of its Instagram photo sharing service, the latest in a string of lawsuits linking social media to mental health problems in children.
Two families, both represented by Laura Marquez-Garrett of the Social Media Victims Law Centre, filed their lawsuits in federal court in San Francisco. The lawsuits alleged that Instagram caused the girls to become addicted to the service and to develop depression, anxiety and anorexia.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Instagram allows users to post pictures, and uses an automated algorithm to show them other users' pictures. Both of Monday's lawsuits said the algorithm encouraged eating disorders by showing the teens pictures of very thin models and content related to extreme exercise.
Both girls attempted suicide and were hospitalized multiple times, according to the lawsuits. One of them had to have a feeding tube at times because she would not eat.
They said Meta knew that some people became addicted to the service, and that teenagers were especially vulnerable. They also said that the company failed to verify users' ages, allowing both plaintiffs to join when they were only 12 despite a nominal minimum age of 13, and failed to shield minors from sexual messages.
ALSO READ:
Both lawsuits also alleged that the algorithm recommended "'friends' who were, in fact, adult Instagram users either suffering from these mental health issues themselves or using the Instagram product to find and exploit young girls."
At least nine other lawsuits have been filed against Meta alleging harm to minors' mental health, including one accusing the company of contributing to an 11-year-old girl's suicide. So far, all are in their early stages.
In February, US Senators Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, and Cynthia Lummis, a Republican, introduced a bill aimed at addressing social media addiction. The bill calls for the National Science Foundation and National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to study potential measures social media companies could take to discourage addiction, and empower the Federal Trade Commission to pass rules requiring them.
The cases are CN v. Meta Platforms Inc and Martin v. Meta Platforms Inc, Nos. 3:22-cv-04283 and 3:22-cv-04286, US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Earlier, interest-free loans were announced for Emiratis whose businesses were affected by the rains, with a grace period of 6 to 12 months
uae5 hours ago
Following a $3 per barrel average global price increase in March, petrol prices for April increased by 12 fils per litre in the UAE
uae5 hours ago
Annual rents in Dubai are usually paid in two, four or six instalments via post-dated cheques
business5 hours ago
NCM official says May 2-3 is identified as the ‘peak’ of the situation
weather5 hours ago
PSG are still involved in the Champions League in what could turn out to be the club's finest ever season
football10 hours ago
World number three Alcaraz, 20, missed a month prior to Madrid with a forearm issue
tennis10 hours ago
It was Chennai's fifth win from nine matches as they moved to third place in the points table with 10 points
cricket11 hours ago
Earlier, Arsenal held on for a pulsating 3-2 win over arch rivals Tottenham
football12 hours ago