Social Media Addiction Lawsuits Continue in California Courts
Hundreds of families and school districts in California have filed social media lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Google on behalf of children who were harmed after extensively using the platforms. A growing body of scientific evidence confirms that rampant problematic social media use is largely responsible for the unprecedented mental health crisis in today’s […]
Social media helped radicalize Tops mass shooter, lawyers seek to hold platforms accountable
https://youtu.be/VjpDXJ4vbII?si=yiGRcWrMTI9mvu5c “If Payton Gendron had gone to Tops Market and stood on a milk crate and voiced his hateful, racist, white supremacist theories, it would’ve been a horrible thing to listen to, but it would not have been a crime; it would have been protected by the First Amendment. We’re not talking about speech, we’re […]
Senators Continue Push to Protect Children From Social Media Harm With Bipartisan Legislation
On November 7, 2023, former Facebook engineering director and Instagram consultant Arturo Bejar testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and Law that Meta officials failed to protect young Instagram users from the harm they experienced on the platform. Bejar, the second whistleblower to come forward against Meta, testified that Meta executives were […]
Whistleblower Exposes Meta’s Knowledge of Instagram Harm to Kids in Senate Hearing
On November 7th, 2023, a critical Senate subcommittee hearing unfolded, featuring Arturo Bejar, a former Facebook security chief and a concerned father. His testimony revealed alarming safety gaps on Instagram, directly affecting young users, including his own child. This session is a wake-up call for all parents about the hidden dangers lurking on social media […]
School Districts Sue Social Media Companies Over Teen Mental Health Crisis
Rising rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm have raised concerns about social media’s effects on children and adolescents. Harassment and inappropriate content threaten students’ physical and emotional well-being. School districts suing social media companies seek justice and accountability on their students’ behalf. Likewise, the Social Media Victims Law Center supports children and teens who suffer […]
Mindless Sharing on Social Media: What is It and Why is it Dangerous?
Mindless sharing and scrolling on social media are common occurrences across all demographics. While seemingly benign, these habits can lead to mental health issues. Unfortunately, social media platforms perpetuate ongoing mindless sharing to get users stuck in an endless cycle that may seem impossible to break. At Social Media Victims Law Center, we provide access […]
Attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett Discusses How the Revised Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) Better Protects LGBTQ+ Youth
This article was featured on The Los Angeles Blade on September 5, 2023. By Laura Marquez-Garrett | SEATTLE, WA. – You’re fourteen years old, in a small, conservative midwest town, and queer. Where do you go? Afraid to approach anyone in person, you go online. You search on YouTube for “Gay Pride” and “Pride Parade,” […]
Social Media Sextortion Schemes Target Teens
WarningThe following blog contains topics that may be sensitive for some readers. Sextortion involving children and teens is on the rise. According to the FBI, more than 3,000 underage victims were targeted in 2022, leading to the suicide of more than a dozen victims. The vast majority of the victims have been male. This cybercrime […]
Instagram Promotes Accounts Sharing Child Sex Abuse Material
According to recent investigations, Instagram’s recommendation algorithms have promoted accounts sharing child sexual abuse content. Researchers have determined that Instagram has a particularly severe problem with accounts showing self-generated child sexual abuse material due to platform hashtags, its recommendation algorithm, and the relatively long life of seller accounts. The Social Media Victims Law Center offers […]