Virginia AG to discuss Instagram investigation developments

Virginia's Attorney General Jason Miyares is set to make an announcement on his investigation into social media's impact on students and their mental health.

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia's Attorney General Jason Miyares is set to make an announcement on his investigation into social media's impact on students and their mental health.

The announcement will be the latest development in a growing list of school districts taking on social media companies for their alleged negative contributions to childhood mental health.

The announcement is scheduled for Tuesday and will deal with Instagram. That Instagraminvestigation launched in November 2021 by a group of attorneys general in at least 10 states

Miyares says his office has been investigating whether META, and its platform, has engaged in misrepresentations or deceptive conduct that harmed the mental health of children and youth.

FOX 5's Melanie Alnwick says the investigations were launched after a Facebook employee revealed internal research that showed the company knew its Instagram app makes many teens feel worse about themselves.

There is currently a nationwide lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Snapchat.

Nearly 200 school systems across the country have signed onto it, including many in Maryland.

The multi-state lawsuit claims the social media platforms are "addictive and dangerous products that have rewired the way kids think, feel, and behave."

It says algorithms & features such as "likes" "are designed to create harmful loops of repetitive and excessive product usage."

the social media companies deny the allegations and say they provide robust parental controls and are working on new features to help families.

The announcement from Miyares is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.