Mark Zuckerberg escapes personal responsibility in several court cases involving the harmful effects ofInstagram and of Facebook on young people.
More than 1,000 lawsuits have been filed across the Atlantic in state and federal courts by families and school districts. Their targets: Meta, Google, TikTok and even Snapchat, with the plaintiffs accusing them of affecting the mental health of young people and of doing nothing to solve the problem. Instagram and Facebook are particularly targeted by this type of affair, and for good reason.
In 2021, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, for example, revealed that the company had conducted an internal study revealing that Instagram “ worsens body image problems for one in three adolescent girls “. However, the company reportedly chose not to disclose this information while continuing to operate in the same manner.
“ Zuck » escapes individual responsibility
Several of the complaints about Meta’s platforms directly mention Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s CEO and founder. The plaintiffs believe that because of his role, he was the one who preferred to hide the impact of social networks from the general public.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the cases, sided with “ Zuck » in a verdict rendered this Monday. From now on, the leader can no longer be considered an individual suspect. According to her, he cannot be held responsible simply because he is the public face of Meta.
A contrary decision would create “ an obligation of disclosure for any person recognizable to the public », Estimates the judge. Plaintiffs can amend their complaints and remove the mention of Zuckerberg, she continued.
A hot topic in the United States
In the United States, regulators are increasingly concerned about the impact of social networks on young people. Last year, 33 states filed lawsuits against Meta, accusing it of deliberately getting teens addicted to its platforms.
Last month, the state of Florida decided to take action by banning minors under the age of 14 from having social media accounts. The text, which should come into force at the beginning of 2025, will most likely be challenged in court.
Source : Bloomberg
1