by Dan Starcher | Oct 24, 2023 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OH, Oct. 24, 2023 — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 32 of his colleagues filed a federal lawsuit today against Meta alleging that the social-media technology giant designed and deployed harmful features for Facebook and Instagram to addict young users to its platforms and enhance its bottom line.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims that Meta, instead of working to mitigate the damage inflicted by its social-mediA mobile phone with platforms, publicly concealed the severity of the psychological harm they cause, including addiction to the platforms, which could, and in some cases did, result in physical harm.
In related complaints filed today in state courts, eight other attorneys general made similar allegations. Florida is filing its own federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The federal and state lawsuits stem from a bipartisan investigation of Meta.
“Given that children, when they’re on these platforms, become vulnerable to cyberbullying and online predators, Meta has added insult to injury, further injuring our children,” Yost said. “I trust that the parents within Meta itself might reconsider these practices, but, until then, initiating lawsuits should compel the company to change its ways.”
The federal lawsuit asserts that Meta violated state consumer protection laws by assuring the public that the platforms are safe and suitable for young users. Yet the company’s practices harmed and continue to harm the mental and physical health of teenagers and pre-teens, the suit maintains, fueling what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a “youth mental health crisis,” which has prompted suicides, devastated families, and damaged a generation of young people.
The complaint further alleges that Meta violated federal law – specifically, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act – when the company, aware that users younger than 13 were actively on its platforms, collected data from those users without parental consent. Meta targeted these youngest users after identifying them as a “valuable but untapped” base, as reported in a 2021 Wall Street Journal article.
Although much of the lawsuit relies on confidential material not yet available to the public, some publicly available sources – including disclosures from former Meta employees – detail how the company deliberately sought to gain financially by addicting teens and tweens to its platforms.
Meta’s platform algorithms, the lawsuit says, push users into descending “rabbit holes,” with the objective of keeping users on the platform for long periods. Meta also allegedly used features such as infinite scroll and near-constant alerts in a concerted effort to hold young users’ attention. Such manipulative tactics entice teens and tweens to continually return to the platforms. Instead of disclosing the harm and making meaningful changes to minimize it, Meta publicly advertised their platforms as safe for young users.
The attorneys general also allege that the platforms served harmful content – including material associated with eating disorders, violence, negative self-perception and body-image issues, and bullying – to young users.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive and monetary relief caused by Meta’s platforms.
Joining Yost in the federal filing are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Filing lawsuits in their respective state courts are the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Vermont.
by Dan Starcher | Oct 19, 2023 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Oct. 19, 2023 —Triway is participating in the 2023 National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest and would love for Purple Pride to go red for a night.
Please join us for a community photo opportunity to promote Red Ribbon Week with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, NorthEast Ohio Pyrotechnic Group (NEOPG), Bogner Construction Company, Wayne County Communications, Wayne County Coroner Office, Wayne County Safe Communities, Medway Drug Enforcement Agency, Wooster Twp. Fire & Rescue, Clinton Twp. Fire & Rescue, Shreve Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol – Wooster Post, Ohio State University Police, and Triway High School Soda Club.
Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year. This year, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Justice are having a national contest for a K-12 school to win $1,000 and an iPad for drug awareness education.
Please vote November 2 through November 16 at www.redribbon.org/vote for Triway’s school photo. The school with the most votes wins!
The photo will be taken as fireworks begin at 6:30 p.m. in Parking Lot A (Parking lot closest to SR 226) at Triway High School on Monday, October 23. Please arrive between 6:00-6:15 using the rear school entrance, park in Parking Lot B and C, and walk to A.
We hope to see you there!
Thanks,
Deputy Kauffman, Triway SRO
by Dan Starcher | Sep 18, 2023 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 18, 2023 — Environmental issues are a hot topic. Many people are looking for ways to help reduce their carbon footprint and increase sustainability. One solution is porous pavers like those recently installed at the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD) building at the fairgrounds.
The innovative pavers allow water to pass through them, reducing the risk of flooding and minimizing the amount of water in storm drains. In addition to being environmentally friendly, porous pavers have a positive economic impact. They can reduce the cost of drainage systems and improve the value of properties by enhancing the aesthetics. Additionally, permeable pavers often require less frequent repairs and replacements than impermeable surfaces, leading to long-term cost savings.
One of the primary benefits of porous pavers is their contribution to environmental sustainability. Traditional impermeable pavement surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, often have harmful consequences, such as increased flooding, water pollution, and soil erosion. In contrast, porous pavers promote natural water filtration that helps maintain a healthy water cycle.
What is a water cycle?
The water cycle plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of water resources on the planet. When water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers, it rises into the atmosphere and forms clouds. These clouds eventually release moisture in the form of rain, snow, and hail, thus replenishing freshwater sources on land.
Without effective filtration, the water cycle is in jeopardy of becoming contaminated with pollutants, chemicals, sediments, and microorganisms. Without adequate filtration, these impurities can accumulate and harm aquatic life, compromise drinking water quality, and disrupt the balance of ecosystems.
by Dan Starcher | Sep 7, 2023 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 6, 2023 — The Wayne County Fair is a bustling and vibrant event where people come together to enjoy thrilling rides, indulge in fair food, and experience the excitement of live entertainment. However, one safety issue often arises amidst the fun and festivities – the lack of reliable cellular phone service.
The lack of reliable cellular phone service has been addressed on multiple occasions. Last spring, representatives from the Wayne County Senior Fair Board, Wayne County Emergency Management, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Wooster Police and Fire, and 911 dispatch services met with one of the area’s popular cellular phone service providers to discuss the issue. In July, the company contacted the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency Director Barb Pittard and said they have chosen not to address the issue at this time.
“We encourage all cellular phone customers experiencing a lack of service to contact the company directly with any concerns,” Pittard said. “Because this is beyond our control, we ask that you make prior meeting arrangements with your family and friends while visiting the fair.”
With the fairgrounds sprawling over a vast area, it is not uncommon for visitors to face spotty or no reception on their cell phones, leading to potential safety concerns. The lack of communication can be worrisome at a time when staying connected is crucial, especially in crowded public spaces.
“If you are coming to pick up a child, you may not be able to contact them by cell phone, so it is essential to establish a pre-determined meeting place and time,” Pittard continued. “You also want to establish a planned meeting place with your children if you become separated while enjoying the fair.”
Safety officials in Wayne County also recommend that fairgoers with allergies or medical conditions bring things like Epi-pens and inhalers and know where the Red Cross building is located (immediately west of the grandstands) for any medical issues that may arise while at the fair.
For additional information, visit waynecountyfairohio.com.
