OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Meta must face the lawsuits against it after a federal judge ruling this week.

Last year, 33 states including Washington sued Meta, the company who owns Facebook and Instagram, for harming young people by contributing to their mental health issues.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Oct. 15, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Meta cannot get off the hook that easily. Ferguson added that Meta disregarded their own research and publicly downplayed the risks the social media platforms pose to vulnerable users.

Now, 42 state attorneys general are on board with the suit filed in the Northern District of California.

It accuses Meta of putting profits above the well-being of children and teens by intentionally targeting them with addictive features.