After a Facebook whistleblower released tons of internal documents relating to the company’s treatment of children, many advocates and lawmakers have pressed the social media giant to explain how it collects the data of young users. And now, many U.S. states have joined an investigation into the alleged “willful practices” by Facebook that may harm children.

According to many of the leaked documents, Facebook was aware that its services may create a toxic or unsafe environment for young users, and that this was detrimental to their physical and mental health. However, the company was seemingly more interested in hooking the next generation than keeping them safe. That’s why many attorneys general around the country have joined an investigation into Facebook’s practices.

“When social media platforms treat our children as mere commodities to manipulate for longer screen time engagement and data extraction, it becomes imperative for state attorneys general to engage our investigative authority under our consumer protection laws,” Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said.

Only time will tell if this investigation uncovers anything new that wasn’t already revealed by the whistleblower. But if nothing else, this case is a sign that the government is ramping up pressure on Facebook to clean up its act — and that should ultimately be a good thing for everyday users.

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