Meta and Children - Remembering How Big Tobacco Caved

 "Meta Platforms Inc. is now a leader in another social media trend -- lawsuits claiming the company built algorithms in its platforms that lure young people into destructive addiction. Eight lawsuits filed in courthouses across the US over the last week allege that excessive exposure to platforms including Facebook and Instagram has led to attempted or actual suicides, eating disorders and sleeplessness, among other issues." - Bloomberg Law, June 8, 2022.

This focus on potential or actual harm to youth mirrors the public affairs strategy state attorneys general used in landing the lucrative Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement of 1998. For years they had been trying to nail Big Tobacco. Then, it has been conjectured, they came up with this: Children were targeted in promotions. That put them over the top in the court of public opinion. Big Tobacco caved.

What has been recently documented is the rise in children's suicides. As The Wall Street Journal reports, often the parents are unaware that their daughters and sons are in emotional distress. Those kinds of statistics could be useful in the litigation against Meta.

Meanwhile, of course, social networks such as Meta also allegedly harm adults like myself. The platforms can be the emotional killing fields. 

Connect with Editor-in-Chief Jane Genova at janegenova374@gmail.com. She helps businesses conjure up magic in their storytelling. One client said, "She makes shipping containers ‘sexy.’"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Timing Is Just Right for US Government to Create The Ministry of Magic

The good versus evil meme plays out over control of the Ministry of Magic. That's the delightful plot and setting for the latest sequel in the "Fantastic Beasts" film series. This one has the subtitle "Secrets of Dumbledore." The good side is represented by Albus Dumbledore and the evil one by Gellert Grindelwald. What hangs this all together is the need to protect the mystical creature Qilin  which can see into souls and foresee the future. Meanwhile Grindelwald has conjured up a fraudulent version of the  Qilin.  Magic, of course, is the way problems are solved and opportunities are seized in the film. Those on the Dumbledore team use white magic. Those on Grindelwald's the toxic kind. But, white magic wins, thanks to the ability to get the  Qilin  to the election to select what leader is pure of heart. Along the way the displays of fanastic whatevers, including the beasts, are amazing. And, like a Shakespearean comedy, the film ends with a wedding. Al...
Read more

Law Students - Subreddit for Big Law As Ultimate Mentor

The  subreddit for Big Law  is, again, the ultimate mentor.  An introvert posed the  query  about how social he has to be to succeed as a summer. He frames the question this way: If he attends all scheduled social events and stays until 10:00 AM is that "enough?" Or, does he have to move on the party-after-the-party? And, drink a lot of alcohol?  26 detailed, thoughtful comments came in. Essentially the answer was: Enough. After all law firms are filled with nerds. The guidance was to be cordial with everyone during those events as well as back in the office. (And, yes, summer is being done RTO).  As for the party-after-the-party there are stern warnings about the inherent peril. Excess, especially of alcohol consumption, has been known to cause a career setback. One law firm ousted the summer mid-internship.  A previous discussion on the subreddit had advised summers about appropriate attire. Connect with Editor-in-Chief Jane Genova at janegenova...
Read more

The Queen's 70th - Count Us Out of the Celebration

  The Wall Street Journal, the bible of business, focuses on the revenue being generated through the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne. Yes, the celebration will be a gala event June 2nd through the 5th. That will unfold despite how Queen Elizabeth is portrayed in the film "Spencer." Here is a trailer . The setting is the traditional-bound Christmas holiday among the royals. After 10 years the marriage has moved beyond restoration to unremitting pain for Diana and seeming frustration for Charles. Yet, the Queen is total dour and no empathy for her daughter-in-law. The focus is on preventing more bad press.  A bit of emotional warmth might have centered Diana. Instead she unravels. Her sons bear witness to that. No wonder Harry outs so much internal turmoil.  Diana is dead. The Queen is not. Sure she has her aches and pains and physical limits. But there she is. Those of us haunted by the scenes of Diana's suffering in "Spencer" wi...
Read more