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Legal Action in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has launched legal efforts to hold social media companies accountable for their role in the youth mental health crisis and to promote positive learning environments in schools.

Proposed Legislation: The STUDY Act

AG Campbell Introduces "The STUDY Act" to Promote Safe Technology Use and Distraction-Free Education for Youth

Introduced: January 17, 2025

Status: ACTIVE

Proposes:

  • “Bell-to-bell” restriction on student access to personal electronic devices during school hours to improve focus and learning.
  • Mandatory school policies on cell phone use, requiring students to store devices out of reach during the school day.
  • Educational initiatives to teach students about the social, emotional, and physical harms of social media use.
  • Exemptions for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or health plans.
  • Social media regulations, requiring platforms to:
    • Implement effective age verification systems.
    • Set default privacy settings to limit exposure and engagement.
    • Provide tools to flag harmful content and user feedback mechanisms.
    • Issue regular warnings about social media’s negative effects on youth well-being.
Read the House Filing
Read the Senate Filing

Lawsuit: Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. TikTok

AG Campbell Files Lawsuit Against TikTok for Harming Young Users Through Unfair and Deceptive Practices

Filed: October 8, 2024

Status: ACTIVE

Alleges that TikTok: 

  • Designed addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and push notifications to maximize user engagement, overriding young users’ self-control.
  • Exploited youth vulnerabilities by using coercive design tactics that induce compulsive and excessive use.
  • Knew about the harms from its own internal data, which showed links to disrupted sleep, depression, anxiety, and other negative effects on youth.
  • Deceived the public by falsely claiming its platform prioritizes youth well-being while rejecting changes that could reduce harmful usage.
  • Failed to implement effective safeguards, offering time management and content moderation tools that it knew were ineffective.
  • Violated consumer protection laws by engaging in unfair and deceptive practices that have contributed to a youth mental health crisis.
  • Targeted young users with design features intended to increase time spent on the platform, despite evidence of harm.
  • Contributed to a mental health crisis, exacerbating issues such as loneliness, reduced cognitive abilities, and behavioral challenges among youth.
Read the Full Complaint

Lawsuit: Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Meta, Instagram

AG Campbell Files Lawsuit Against Meta, Instagram For Unfair And Deceptive Practices That Harm Young People

Filed: October 24, 2023

Status: ACTIVE

Alleges that Meta, Instagram: 

  • Designed addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and notifications to exploit young users’ vulnerabilities and maximize engagement.
  • Knew about the harms from internal research showing negative effects on youth mental health but hid this information from the public.
  • Deceived the public by falsely claiming the platform prioritizes youth well-being while deliberately rejecting safety measures.
  • Failed to protect underage users, allowing children under 13 to use the platform despite knowing its harmful impact and ineffective age verification measures.
  • Contributed to a youth mental health crisis, with excessive social media use linked to depression, anxiety, and behavioral challenges.
  • Prioritized profit over safety, choosing not to implement changes that could reduce harm due to concerns over growth and revenue.
  • Burdened public systems, increasing costs for schools and healthcare providers to address the impact on youth mental and physical health.
Read the Full Complaint

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Legal Action

AG Campbell Introduces “The STUDY Act” To Promote Safe Technology Use and Distraction-Free Education For Youth

Legal Action

AG Campbell Files Lawsuit Against Meta, Instagram For Unfair And Deceptive Practices That Harm Young People

Legal Action

AG Campbell Files Lawsuit Against TikTok For Harming Young Users Through Unfair and Deceptive Practices