New York Sues Social Media Companies For Addicting Kids
New York City has filed a new lawsuit accusing most social media platforms, such as Facebook, Google, Snapchat, TikTok and other online platforms, of fueling a mental health crisis among children by addicting them to social media.
The complaint submitted on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court seeks damages from Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms, Google and YouTube owner Alphabet, Snapchat owner Snap and TikTok owner ByteDance. It accuses the defendants of gross negligence and causing a public nuisance.
The city joined other governments, school districts and individuals pursuing approximately 2,050 similar lawsuits, in nationwide litigation in the Oakland, California, federal court.
New York City has a population of 8.48 million, including approximately 1.8 million individuals under the age of 18, and is one of the largest plaintiffs in the United States. Its school and healthcare systems are included.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said allegations concerning YouTube are “simply not true,” in part because it is a streaming service and not a social network where people catch up with friends.
The other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for New York City’s law department stated that the city withdrew from litigation announced by Mayor Eric Adams in February 2024, which was pending in California state courts, so that it could join the federal litigation.
DEFENDANTS BLAMED FOR COMPULSIVE USE, SUBWAY SURFING
According to Wednesday’s complaint, the defendants designed their platforms to “exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of youth,” and drive compulsive use in pursuit of profit.
According to the complaint, 77.3% of New York City high school students and 82.1% of girls admitted to spending three or more hours a day on “screen time,” including TV, computers, and smartphones, which contributed to lost sleep and chronic school absences.
New York City’s health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard in January 2024, and the city, including its schools, has had to spend more taxpayer dollars addressing the resulting youth mental health crisis, the complaint stated.
The city also blamed social media for an increase in “subway surfing,” or riding atop or off the sides of moving trains. At least 16 subway surfers have died since 2023, including two girls aged 12 and 13 this month, police data show.
“Defendants should be held to account for the harms their conduct has inflicted,” the city said. “As it stands now, (the) plaintiffs are left to abate the nuisance and foot the bill.”