Latest York City filed a brand new lawsuit accusing Facebook, Google, Snapchat, TikTok and other online platforms of fueling a mental health crisis amongst children by addicting them to social media.
Wednesday’s 327-page grievance 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 town joined other governments, school districts and individuals pursuing roughly 2,050 similar lawsuits, in nationwide litigation within the Oakland, Calif., federal court.
Latest York City is amongst the most important plaintiffs, with a population of 8.48 million, including about 1.8 million under age 18. Its school and healthcare systems are also plaintiffs.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said allegations concerning YouTube are “simply not true,” partly because it is a streaming service and never a social network where people meet up with friends.
The opposite defendants didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for Latest York City’s law department said the town withdrew from litigation announced by Mayor Eric Adams in February 2024 and pending in California state courts so it could join the federal litigation.
Defendants blamed for compulsive use, subway browsing
In line with Wednesday’s grievance, the defendants designed their platforms to “exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of youth,” and drive compulsive use in pursuit of profit.
The grievance said 77.3% of Latest York City highschool students, and 82.1% of women, admitted to spending three or more hours a day on “screen time” including TV, computers and smartphones, contributing to lost sleep and chronic school absences.
Latest York City’s health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard in January 2024, and the town including its schools has needed to spend more taxpayer dollars to handle the resulting youth mental health crisis, the grievance said.
The town also blamed social media for a rise in “subway browsing,” or riding atop or off the perimeters of moving trains. No less than 16 subway surfers have died since 2023, including two girls aged 12 and 13 this month, police data show.
“Defendants needs to be held to account for the harms their conduct has inflicted,” the town said. “Because it stands now, (the) plaintiffs are left to abate the nuisance and foot the bill.”
Latest York City filed a brand new lawsuit accusing Facebook, Google, Snapchat, TikTok and other online platforms of fueling a mental health crisis amongst children by addicting them to social media.
Wednesday’s 327-page grievance 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 town joined other governments, school districts and individuals pursuing roughly 2,050 similar lawsuits, in nationwide litigation within the Oakland, Calif., federal court.
Latest York City is amongst the most important plaintiffs, with a population of 8.48 million, including about 1.8 million under age 18. Its school and healthcare systems are also plaintiffs.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said allegations concerning YouTube are “simply not true,” partly because it is a streaming service and never a social network where people meet up with friends.
The opposite defendants didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for Latest York City’s law department said the town withdrew from litigation announced by Mayor Eric Adams in February 2024 and pending in California state courts so it could join the federal litigation.
Defendants blamed for compulsive use, subway browsing
In line with Wednesday’s grievance, the defendants designed their platforms to “exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of youth,” and drive compulsive use in pursuit of profit.
The grievance said 77.3% of Latest York City highschool students, and 82.1% of women, admitted to spending three or more hours a day on “screen time” including TV, computers and smartphones, contributing to lost sleep and chronic school absences.
Latest York City’s health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard in January 2024, and the town including its schools has needed to spend more taxpayer dollars to handle the resulting youth mental health crisis, the grievance said.
The town also blamed social media for a rise in “subway browsing,” or riding atop or off the perimeters of moving trains. No less than 16 subway surfers have died since 2023, including two girls aged 12 and 13 this month, police data show.
“Defendants needs to be held to account for the harms their conduct has inflicted,” the town said. “Because it stands now, (the) plaintiffs are left to abate the nuisance and foot the bill.”
