Meta Is Failing Kids. Lawmakers Are Failing Them, Too.

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, December 5, 2025

“In late November, court filings were unsealed that include salacious details, such as Meta requiring more than 17 human trafficking attempts before flagging an account, something verified by multiple company sources. The plaintiffs are more than 1,800 parents, school districts, teachers, states and attorneys general. They argue that the parent companies behind Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube “relentlessly pursued a strategy of growth at all costs, recklessly ignoring the impact of their products on children’s mental and physical health.”

Tell me with a straight face that this isn’t a problem. That’s what a Meta spokesperson is saying: “We strongly disagree with these allegations, which rely on cherry-picked quotes and misinformed opinions in an attempt to present a deliberately misleading picture.”

But this latest lawsuit is far from a one-off, and evidence is piling up about the negative impact on kids.

Most parents think there are obvious reforms that would keep kids safe. But only a handful of state legislatures have forced social media companies to implement age limits or tools mandating parental consent. (Another handful have passed laws that have been paused due to court challenges by the tech industry.)”