- A mother is suing Meta, alleging that using Facebook caused her thirteen-year-old to develop mental health problems.
- The teen is described as a "heavy Facebook user" who began using the platform at the age of seven.
- The lawsuit alleges that the company knowingly exploits "vulnerable users" to drive profit.
A parent of a thirteen-year-old girl is suing Facebook and its parent company, Meta, alleging that the company failed to take "ordinary care" that users were not harmed by excessive use of the social media platform.
Cecilia Tesch's daughter, who is a minor and referred to as R.P. throughout the complaint, is described as a "heavy user of Facebook."
The lawsuit, filed at the US District Court in Denver, Colorado states that Tesch's daughter began using Facebook at the age of seven and quickly began engaging in "addictive and problematic use of the platform."
The lawsuit alleges that R.P.'s interest in other activities declined and her sleep suffered due to "constant notifications" from the social media app.
Tesch's complaint alleges that the content shown to R.P. on Facebook and the recommendations made by the app led to her developing issues such as "body dysmorphia eating disorder, self-harm, severe anxiety, depression, and a decrease in motivation to do school work or socialize with her family and peers."
Representatives for Meta did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the lawsuit.
Meta "designed Facebook to allow children and adolescents to use, become addicted to, and abuse their product without the consent of the users' parents," the lawsuit claims, adding that the plaintiffs believe Facebook's age verification measures are "weak."
The lawsuit also accuses the company of knowingly exploiting "vulnerable users" to drive profit.
This is not the first time social media platforms have come under fire over their treatment and safeguarding of children and adolescents.
Earlier this year, a Pennsylvania mother sued TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, for allegedly recommending a video dare to her 10-year-old daughter that resulted in her death, Insider reported.