PA Joins Multi-State Probe Of Facebook, Instagram Owner

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is among the states participating in a multi-state investigation into Instagram owner Meta Platforms Inc., the newly renamed Facebook. Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the probe will focus on whether Meta provided Instagram to children and young adults in ways that violated state consumer protection laws.

The inquiry will examine Facebook techniques to increase the visit to and amount of time youths spent on the platform and any harm caused by the extended engagement. It's being launched in the wake of recent reports that Meta research indicated Instagram use is associated with a variety of conditions - including depression, eating disorders and suicide.

"Social media companies have a responsibility to keep their users safe and disclose risks associated with their platforms,” Shapiro said in a release. “Our investigation will help determine whether Facebook failed in its responsibility to protect children online and will help us determine how to stop these companies from continuing to put children at risk for their own profit.”

In addition to Shapiro, the investigation is being led by a bipartisan group of attorneys general from states that include California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont.

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