North Carolina 1 Of 42 States Suing Facebook And Instagram

North Carolina is one of forty-two states that are saying enough is enough.  I don't think it takes a genius to connect the dots between the ongoing, alarming mental health crises among America's youth and social media.  Now, I'm not saying that the platforms are 100% to blame, but they are definitely fuel for the fire.  And now, Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta, is going to have face the music, so to speak.

Sit down for this number.  77%, so nearly 8 out of 10 teenagers are dealing with mental health challenges according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  Wow.  One of the biggest reasons cited is social media.

Greenville and New Bern’s Hakuna Wellness Center Licensed Clinical Additions Specialist, Richard Morefield tells WCNC that FOMO is a thing.  “It’s the fear of missing out and that is kind of the hook that is programmed into some algorithms in these social media apps that keep these young minds coming back.”

In terms of the lawsuit filed, here's what you need to know.  North Carolina has joined more than 40 states in suing Meta (Facebook/Instagram) saying that not only is the social media giant fueling this mental health crisis, but the states also allege Meta KNOWS that teens self-esteem suffers once they are addicted to the Facebook and Instagram.

And Meta's response? The social media giant has issued a statement saying it shares the concern(s) and they want teenage users of Facebook and Instagram to be safe, BUT (and no surprise here) Meta has yet to specifically address the complaints of the lawsuit.

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just saying these states are stopping short.  If you want to go after social media platforms that kids and teens are REALLY addicted to, why haven't there been lawsuits filed against TikTok and Snapchat?

The vast majority of people have a Facebook account, whether or not they log in or even post on it often is another story. But if you have an account in any fashion you'll want to keep reading. The parent company of Facebook, Meta, recently settled a $725 Million lawsuit that has been tentatively approved by a judge. And if you have or have had a Facebook account, you are entitled to part of that settlement.

The lawsuit claimed that Facebook was allowing as many as 87 million users' personal data to be shared with third parties without their consent, according to the Associated Press. Yeah, we know now that's a big no-no. But it had been going on for years in the company. The settlement is scheduled to receive final approval this fall, but you can go ahead and file a claim for your percentage of that money now.

You can get all the info you need on the Facebook settlement or how to apply here. Or keep reading to see the answers to the main questions you probably have.

You are considered a "settlement class member" if you were a Facebook user in the United States between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022.

In order to receive your portion of the settlement complete the Claim Form that obtains approval from the Settlement Administrator. The Claim Form must be submitted no later than August 25, 2023.

You can submit your Claim Form online or download the Claim Form and mail it to the Settlement Administrator.

Unfortunately, there is not a straight answer to this question as of yet. It will depend on how long you were a user of the platform in the time period as well as the number of people who submit a claim. After attorneys fees and other expenses are deducted from the settlement total the rest will be divided among claimants.

It doesn't matter, the settlement is open to any Facebook users during the above stated time period.