Two families from Pennsylvania and Scotland have filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the company’s Instagram platform failed to protect teenagers from sexual blackmail, also known as sextortion, which led to the deaths of their sons.
The lawsuit claims that the boys, ages 13 and 16, were targeted by strangers posing as romantic interests on Instagram. These predators reportedly coerced the teens into sending explicit images, threatening to release them unless additional content or payments were provided.
Details of the Case
- Levi Maciejewski, 13, from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, joined Instagram and died within 48 hours of signing up.
- Murray Dowey, 16, from Dunblane, Scotland, had been using Instagram since age 10 and also fell victim to similar sextortion tactics.
The families argue that Instagram’s default privacy settings, which kept teen accounts public until 2024, made young users particularly vulnerable. For years, teens were allowed to receive messages from strangers, and their follower and following lists were publicly visible, facilitating exploitation.
The lawsuit cites internal Meta records showing that company teams were aware of the risks but delayed implementing privacy protections due to concerns over growth and engagement. According to the plaintiffs, these delays contributed directly to the deaths of Levi and Murray.
Meta’s Response
Meta, which owns Instagram, did not comment directly on the lawsuit but stated it continues to fight sextortion through multiple platform safeguards. The company noted that since 2021, Instagram has set accounts of users under 16 to private by default and has restricted interactions with suspicious accounts. Meta also uses tools like content blurring in direct messages and age-based safety measures.
However, the lawsuit asserts that these changes came too late for many teens who had already been victimized and that Instagram’s protections were previously insufficient.
Broader Context
Sextortion scams targeting minors have become an increasing concern globally. The FBI reports thousands of cases nationwide, with victims primarily being boys, and links the crimes to international networks operating from West Africa and Southeast Asia. At least 36 teens have died by suicide in connection with sextortion schemes.
The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of social media companies regarding their responsibility for child safety. Lawmakers, parents, and advocacy groups have increasingly pressured Meta to strengthen safeguards for minors, with some countries, such as Australia, banning social media use for individuals under 16.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, arguing that Meta’s design decisions and delayed safety measures directly endangered the lives of children using its platform.
