Boston, MA – Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has joined a coalition of 31 states urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) before the end of the year. The legislation, which aims to strengthen protections for minors online, comes amid mounting concerns about the harmful effects of social media on youth mental health.
In a joint letter, the coalition of state attorneys general emphasized the urgent need to address the growing crisis, citing studies showing that many minors spend over five hours a day online. The coalition’s push for KOSA underscores its provisions aimed at curbing the addictive and harmful design features of social media platforms, including tools to help prevent addiction and provide greater oversight of online content targeted at young users.
“Too many children are facing a mental health crisis tied to their use of social media, and the companies behind these platforms must be held accountable,” said Attorney General Campbell. “KOSA provides critical safeguards to protect our children and empower parents with the tools they need to keep their children safe online.”
The KOSA, currently under review in Congress, would require social media platforms to implement stronger safety measures, including more stringent privacy settings, better age verification, and stronger safeguards against harmful content.
Lawsuits Target Social Media Giants for Harmful Practices
In tandem with advocating for federal legislation, AG Campbell today filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly Facebook) and its subsidiary, Instagram, accusing the companies of deliberately designing their platforms to addict young users and conceal the dangers of their services.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta, through its own internal research, was aware of the harm its platforms caused to teen users but chose to mislead the public in order to maximize profits. It claims Meta exploited addictive design features—such as “infinite scroll,” autoplay videos, and notifications—to keep minors engaged for longer periods, despite knowing that these features contributed to negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation.
“Meta has knowingly targeted and exploited young users’ vulnerabilities for profit,” said AG Campbell. “This lawsuit is part of our ongoing effort to force these companies to be responsible stewards of their platforms and protect the well-being of our children.”
The complaint also accuses Meta of failing to enforce its own policies regarding underage users, allowing children under 13 to use Instagram despite company guidelines prohibiting them. Internal documents, as cited in the lawsuit, reveal that Meta was aware of the ineffectiveness of its age verification measures but chose not to implement more effective tools in order to protect its bottom line.
State Attorneys General Take Action Across the Country
AG Campbell’s lawsuit is part of a broader effort by state attorneys general to hold social media companies accountable. Campbell is joined by other states in filing lawsuits against Meta and TikTok, accusing both companies of contributing to the mental health crisis among youth. In addition to the lawsuit against Meta, the Massachusetts AG’s office has also filed a complaint against TikTok, accusing the platform of using similar manipulative design tactics that target young users and encourage compulsive, addictive use.
The attorneys general highlighted several key provisions of KOSA that would enhance online protections for minors:
- Mandatory default safety settings: Requiring platforms to automatically enable their strongest safety protections for minors rather than burying these features behind opt-in screens;
- Addiction prevention: Allowing young users and their parents to disable manipulative design features and algorithmic recommendations that keep children endlessly scrolling;
- Parental empowerment: Providing parents with new tools to identify harmful behaviors and improved capabilities to report dangerous content.
“TikTok, like Meta, has deliberately designed its platform to exploit young people for profit, despite knowing the damaging effects it has on their mental health,” AG Campbell said. The complaint against TikTok highlights features such as “infinite scroll” and “push notifications” that are designed to keep users engaged for long periods. AG Campbell also criticized TikTok for failing to make meaningful changes to its platform, even after recognizing the harm it caused.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis
Research has shown that excessive social media use among teens is linked to a variety of mental health issues, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and body image concerns. Studies also show that after just one hour of daily social media use, adolescents experience a significant decline in mental well-being. Furthermore, frequent social media use alters brain chemistry, making young users more susceptible to addictive behaviors.
“The science is clear—prolonged exposure to social media negatively impacts our children’s mental health,” said AG Campbell. “We must hold these platforms accountable for the harm they cause and implement stronger protections to keep our youth safe online.”
The lawsuits filed by AG Campbell and other state attorneys general are part of a coordinated effort to force social media companies to implement stricter safety measures, particularly for young users. The cases seek to hold these companies responsible for deceptive practices and the adverse effects of their products on youth.
A Broader Push for Legislative Change
The coalition of state attorneys general is also calling for federal action through the Kids Online Safety Act, which seeks to establish nationwide protections for minors online. The proposed legislation would require platforms to prioritize the safety and well-being of young users, including offering default safety settings for children, enabling parents to monitor and manage their children’s online activity, and requiring platforms to disable manipulative design features that promote addiction.
“These companies must be held to the highest standards of accountability,” said AG Campbell. “By passing KOSA and implementing stronger protections for young people, we can begin to address the growing mental health crisis and ensure that our children are safe as they navigate the digital world.”
As the legal battles continue and the push for KOSA intensifies, Massachusetts remains at the forefront of efforts to safeguard children from online harm.
