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Washington metro population climbs to 6.2 million

WASHINGTON — The Washington metropolitan area added 65,908 new residents last year, the fifth-largest numerical increase in population in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The D.C. area’s total metro population is now 6,216,589, a growth rate of 1.1 percent.

D.C. remains the sixth-largest metropolitan area by population, unchanged from 2016.

The biggest shift in the D.C. area’s population change was a jump from the 11th-largest increase in population in 2016 to the fifth-largest last year.

Baltimore cracked the top 20 on the most populous metro areas last year, bumping St. Louis from the number 20 spot, and up from 21st place in 2016.

However, it still saw its population decrease. Baltimore City had a metro population of 616,958 at the end of 2017, a loss of 5,310 residents, or a 0.9 percent decline in population.

St. Louis, now ranked 21st for population, was the ninth-largest metro area in 1960.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area had the biggest numerical population increase among metro areas last year, adding 146,000 new residents.

Houston, Atlanta, and Phoenix were the only other metro areas logging a bigger numeric increase in population last year than the Washington metropolitan area.

Out of 382 metro areas, 87, or 22.8 percent, saw population decreases between 2016 and 2017.

The Census Bureau has posted tables detailing the largest population increases and decreases by metro areas and counties online.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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