'We did everything that we should have done as parents, but we were fighting a computer algorithm. We were outnumbered, we were out powered.'
A family from Long Island is suing Meta for "harming" their teenage daughter through her use of Instagram.Spence said she created an account so she could play with Webkinz. Webkinz are stuffed animals that have online counterparts in games.Spence said she started clicking on fitness pictures and pictures of models. She said Instagram began, "showing me pictures of young people struggling with eating disorders and their bodies.
Spence's parents said they were always suspicious of whether Spence's struggles stemmed from her social media use. But, they said when Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, came forward in 2021 with evidence Facebook knew Instagram was toxic for teenage girls, they put two-and-two together.The Spences are now part of more than 1,000 families across the United States and Canada who are suing the social media giants for causing personal injuries to their loved ones.
Meta said it has developed various tools to help teens stay safe on Instagram, including age verification done through uploading a video selfie, nudging teens to look at a different topic if they've been scrolling on one topic for too long and letting parents see how long their child has been on Instagram and who they're following.
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