Is social media a digital playground or a psychological trap for children?

Health · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is leading a massive legal battle against tech giants. From alleging that Instagram causes depression and anxiety to comparing Roblox to a predatory van, his litigation targets the profound mental health risks posed by the digital era's most powerful platforms.

In 2024, Skrmetti joined a bipartisan lawsuit involving dozens of U.S. states against Meta, the parent company of Instagram. The litigation alleges that the platform intentionally deployed features that harm children, contributing to serious mental health issues including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and sleep deprivation. This follows Skrmetti's earlier opposition to Instagram's 'kids only' version, where he argued such platforms exploit children during periods of psychological vulnerability. This legal effort is part of a larger coordinated strategy with a federal lawsuit filed in California. Skrmetti's advocacy for youth safety follows his tenure as chief deputy attorney general under Herbert Slatery.

The legal scrutiny extends to the gaming industry as well. On December 18, 2025, Skrmetti filed suit against the multiplayer platform Roblox. He characterized the service as the digital equivalent of a 'creepy cargo van' lingering near a playground, accusing the company of misleading parents and guardians regarding the safety of their children in digital spaces. The litigation against Roblox is part of a broader pattern of scrutiny regarding digital safety. This follows his previous efforts to investigate the impact of TikTok on the state's residents.

Beyond social media, Skrmetti's office has maintained focus on broader consumer protections and regulatory oversight. This includes investigating the impact of TikTok and examining antitrust concerns regarding Ticketmaster and LiveNation following the surge in Taylor Swift's Eras Tour ticket prices. While much of his recent work focuses on the intersection of technology and youth safety, his legal record also includes defending Tennessee's Senate Bill 1, which restricts certain gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, a case upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2025. The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision found the law does not discriminate based on transgender status. Instead, the justices determined the statute uses a deferential rational basis standard for its review.

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