This week I was sent an email regarding the following. I understand this is an American lawsuit, however it does highlight the issues social media can create for our young people.

On October 15, a California federal judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta must continue to face social media addiction lawsuits from more than 30 U.S. states that claim its social media platforms harm children and teenagers through addictive algorithm designs. While the judge agreed that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 shields Meta from some of the states’ claims, she also ruled that the states presented enough evidence of allegedly misleading statements Meta made to proceed with most claims in their cases. The decision will allow the states to collect more evidence and potentially proceed to trial.

The ruling affected two lawsuits against Meta that accuse the company of fueling anxiety, depression, and body image issues in youth by implementing harmful and addictive algorithms into their platforms. Additionally, the suits are two of many to accuse Meta of failing to adequately warn children and their parents about the risks of using its platforms. Lawsuits against the company and other social media giants aim to hold the companies accountable for their business practices and seek financial compensation for victims.

Why Are People Filing Lawsuits Against Meta?

Parents and guardians are filing lawsuits against Meta because of the mental and physical harm its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, have caused younger users. Studies show Facebook and Instagram have led to a rise in social media addiction in teens, leading to mental health issues and harm, including:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Suicide

• Self-Harm

• Eating Disorders

This weeks newsletter, I want to focus on ideas parent/carers can use to reduce the time young people are on social media.

Here are several ideas for parents to help manage their children's social media use:

Set Clear Guidelines: Establish rules about when and how long children can use social media. Create a family agreement that outlines acceptable usage.

Monitor Usage: Use parental control apps or built-in features on devices to monitor social media activity. Stay informed about which platforms your children are using.

Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where children feel comfortable discussing their online experiences. Encourage them to share any concerns they have about what they encounter on social media.

Lead by Example: Model healthy social media habits. Demonstrate balanced usage and discuss your own experiences with social media.

Educate About Online Safety: Teach children about privacy settings, the importance of not sharing personal information, and how to recognize and report cyberbullying.

Promote Offline Activities: Encourage participation in sports, hobbies, and family activities to create a balanced lifestyle that doesn’t revolve around social media.

Designate Tech-Free Zones: Establish areas in the home, such as the dining room or bedrooms, where device use is not allowed, promoting family interaction and reducing screen time.

Be Involved: Engage with your children’s online activities. Ask about their favorite platforms, and consider following them or being friends on social media to stay connected.

Set Time Limits: Use apps that help limit screen time or set timers for social media use, ensuring that children have breaks from screens.

Discuss the Impact: Talk about the potential negative effects of social media, such as cyberbullying and unrealistic comparisons, to help children develop a critical perspective.

Currently an American Professor is filing a lawsuit against Meta, which if successful will allow users to externally manage what they are fed on Facebook.

The tool, called Unfollow Everything 2.0, is a browser extension that would let Facebook users unfollow friends, groups and pages and empty their newsfeed — the stream of posts, photos and videos that can keep them scrolling endlessly. The idea is that without this constant, addicting stream of content, people might use it less. If the past is any indication, Meta will not be keen on the idea.

A U.K. developer, Luis Barclay, released a similar tool, called Unfollow Everything, but he took it down in 2021, fearing a lawsuit after receiving a cease-and-desist letter and a lifetime Facebook ban from Meta, then called Facebook Inc.

However until these extensions are available to download, we need to look t other ways to control how much we use social media and what we access.

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