NYC's Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Hits Tech Giants
New York City is taking on some of the biggest names in tech. In a sweeping 327-page lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, the city accused major social media platforms of driving a “youth mental health crisis” through addictive design choices that keep young users glued to their screens.
The lawsuit names the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. It accuses them of gross negligence and creating a public nuisance by intentionally designing their platforms to exploit the vulnerabilities of young users.
City officials argue that these companies developed features aimed at maximizing engagement while ignoring known mental health risks. The lawsuit points to features like endless feeds, algorithmic recommendations, and nonstop notifications as deliberate tactics to keep young users hooked.
Officials say the city’s public schools and healthcare system are bearing the costs. The lawsuit points to rising rates of sleep deprivation, absenteeism, and mental health issues among students.
Recent surveys included in the lawsuit reveal that 77.3% of New York City high school students, including 82.1% of girls, spend at least three hours a day on screens. The city argues that this level of use is contributing to declining student well-being and learning outcomes.
The complaint also links social media to dangerous online trends, including “subway surfing,” which has resulted in at least 16 deaths since 2023. City officials say these deaths reflect how platform algorithms amplify risky behavior for engagement.
New York’s case joins more than 2,000 similar lawsuits from states, school districts, and individuals across the country, which have been combined into a single federal case in Oakland, California. With 8.48 million residents, including 1.8 million minors, New York is among the largest plaintiffs involved.
In January 2024, the city’s health commissioner formally declared social media a public health hazard, calling it a growing burden on public systems.
A spokesperson for Google rejected the allegations, saying the claims “fundamentally misunderstand how YouTube works.” The company argued that YouTube functions as a video platform, not a traditional social network. Meta Platforms, Snap Inc., and ByteDance did not respond to requests for comment.
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