Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday filed a motion in the Circuit Court for Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, seeking an injunction to limit child access to social media, make safety information more accessible, improve the child sexual exploitation reporting process, and disable features encouraging excessive use among teens.

Florida sued under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), which prohibits deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable acts. “Meta built Instagram and Facebook to keep kids scrolling,” the Florida AG said on X, “their own research showed the harm: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, predators in the direct messages. Then they told parents the apps were safe.”

The motion also alleges that statements made by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Congress regarding protections for young users and the exclusion of underage users from Meta’s social media platforms were inconsistent with the company’s internal policies, data, and research. Florida also alleges that Meta deceptively represented that it prioritized user well-being and safety while instead prioritizing engagement and company growth. The state is seeking to bar Meta from making similar representations in the future.

Florida did not join the 47 states that reached a $18 billion settlement with Meta in August, saying that “it did not go far enough to protect children.” Uthmeier argued that the settlement’s financial penalty amounted to “a slap on the wrist,” that its injunctive provisions were temporary, and that it failed to adequately address Meta’s alleged “deceptive statements and omissions.”

Instead, Florida cited a New Mexico suit brought under a similar consumer protection law that resulted in age-verification requirements and additional protections against child exploitation. Florida argues that similar relief is warranted in this case.

The case is the latest move in a series of cases across the country brought by states, a school district, and an individual alleging harms to minors from social media. This year, lawmakers around the world have introduced legislation aimed at regulating minors’ use of social media, but some measures have recently faced successful legal challenges on free speech and privacy grounds.