Meta Faces Lawsuit Over Teen Suicides Linked to Sextortion Scams

The families of two teenage boys, Levi Maciejewski from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and Murray Dowey from Dunblane, Scotland, have filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the tech company has neglected the dangers of sexual blackmail schemes, or sextortion scams, targeting teens on Instagram.

The lawsuit claims that both boys fell victim to similar scams that involved strangers posing as romantic interests, soliciting intimate photos, and subsequently threatening to share those images unless more photos were provided or a ransom was paid.

Lawyers for the families argue that Meta's internal documents reveal the company was aware of this extortion problem and chose profit over the safety of young users. Meta has stated it is working to combat sextortion and has implemented some protective measures for users under 16, although the lawsuit contends these changes were insufficient and came too late.

The case reflects a growing concern over social media platforms' responsibilities in protecting vulnerable youth, with multiple lawsuits asserting negligence on Meta's part regarding sextortion. This issue has attracted significant attention, including investigations by members of Congress into Meta's AI chatbots concerning child safety.

The ongoing scrutiny of Meta’s practices highlights the urgent need for stronger protections against such online threats, particularly for teenagers who are increasingly active on social media platforms.