Meta defends its child safety efforts but critics say the social media giant falls short08/21/2026CHICAGO (AP) — Meta is defending itself in a California federal court against allegations that its social media business poses harms to children and teenagers. Four states accuse Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that get children addicted to scrolling. The company says it has implemented safety measures for young users and will add more. Instagram and Facebook have added features over the years to report inappropriate content and enhance privacy, but critics argue these safety measures are insufficient and ineffective.