A South Carolina lawmaker is suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Whatsapp, following the tragic death of his son due to online sextortion. State Rep. Brandon Guffey has filed a lawsuit against the social media giant, accusing it of failing to protect minors from online sexual predators who exploit them for financial gain.
Guffey’s 17-year-old son, Gavin, became a victim of sextortion and tragically died by suicide in the summer of 2022. In his fight to protect other children from similar experiences, Guffey introduced Gavin’s Law, which makes sextortion a felony offense in South Carolina, especially when the victim is a minor. The law garnered bipartisan support and was passed by the General Assembly.
In his lawsuit, Guffey alleges that Meta has created social media products that are addictive and dangerous and specifically target minors. He claims that the company intentionally incorporated design features to maximize youth engagement and increase advertising revenue. Guffey holds Meta responsible for the mental health crisis affecting America’s youth today.
This lawsuit is one of several pending legal actions against Meta, including a case brought by 33 states accusing the company of contributing to the decline in minors’ mental health through its addictive apps. Additionally, New Mexico has filed a lawsuit alleging that Meta exposed underage users to potential sexual predators.
Guffey revealed that less than 30 days after his son’s death, the same Facebook profile that targeted Gavin started harassing his other children and even himself. The profile sent him a message stating that his son had begged for his life. Guffey questions how many other children may have been targeted by this profile.
He highlights the importance of parents being aware of the dangers posed to children within their own homes. Guffey emphasizes that spending excessive time online instead of engaging in the real world increases the likelihood of being targeted by predators. The average person spends nearly seven hours a day online, as reported by the House AI committee.
The lawsuit brought by Guffey seeks to hold Meta accountable for its alleged failure to protect minors from online sexual exploitation. As the legal battle unfolds, it sheds light on the urgent need to address the risks faced by children in the digital age and the responsibility of social media companies in safeguarding their users, especially vulnerable minors.
Meta has not commented on the lawsuit thus far.
