The city of New York has initiated a new legal action against several major online platforms, including Facebook, Google, Snapchat, and TikTok, claiming that these companies are contributing to a mental health crisis among children by making social media addictive.
The extensive 327-page lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Manhattan, seeks compensation from the owners of Facebook and Instagram (Meta Platforms), Google and YouTube (Alphabet), Snapchat (Snap), and TikTok (ByteDance). The city alleges that these companies have acted with gross negligence and have created a public nuisance.
This lawsuit adds to a growing number of cases, totaling approximately 2,050, pursued by various governments, school districts, and individuals across the country, which are currently being handled by a federal court in Oakland, California.
New York City stands out as one of the largest claimants in this legal action, with a population of approximately 8.48 million, including around 1.8 million individuals under the age of 18, and its educational and healthcare institutions are included as plaintiffs.
In response, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda refuted the claims related to YouTube, stating that they are “simply false,” emphasizing that YouTube functions as a streaming service rather than a social networking site for personal connections.
The other accused companies have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the lawsuit.
A representative from New York City’s legal department indicated that the city has withdrawn from a lawsuit initiated by Mayor Eric Adams in February 2024, which was pending in California state courts, in order to be part of this federal case.
Allegations of Compulsive Use and Dangerous Trends
<pThe lawsuit alleges that the design of these platforms is intended to "exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of youth," leading to compulsive usage that prioritizes profit over safety.
The complaint highlights that 77.3% of high school students in New York City, including 82.1% of girls, reported spending three or more hours per day on screens, which significantly contributes to sleep deprivation and chronic absenteeism from school.
In January 2024, the health commissioner of New York City declared social media a public health hazard, prompting the city and its educational systems to allocate additional taxpayer funds to tackle the ongoing youth mental health crisis, according to the lawsuit.
The city also attributed the rise in hazardous behaviors such as “subway surfing” to social media influence, mentioning that at least 16 subway surfers have lost their lives since 2023, which includes two girls aged 12 and 13 this month, according to police records.
“The defendants must be held accountable for the damage their actions have caused,” stated the city. “At present, the plaintiffs are forced to mitigate the nuisance and bear the financial burden.”
