New York City Sues Social Media Giants, Alleging Harm to Youth Mental Health
NEW YORK – May 15, 2024 – New York City has filed a lawsuit against several social media companies, including Google (owner of YouTube), Snap (owner of Snapchat), and ByteDance (owner of TikTok), alleging they intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive to young people, contributing to a youth mental health crisis. The city accuses the companies of gross negligence and creating a public nuisance.
The lawsuit, joined with approximately 2,050 similar suits nationwide currently in federal court in Oakland, California, claims the platforms exploit the psychology and neurophysiology of young people to drive compulsive use for profit. New York City is a meaningful plaintiff,representing a population of 8.48 million, with roughly 1.8 million residents under the age of 18. The city’s school and health systems are also involved in the litigation.
According to the complaint, 77.3 percent of New York high school students, and 82.1 percent of girls, report spending three or more hours daily on screen time, including television, computers, and smartphones. This excessive use is linked to sleep loss and increased school absences.
New York City Health Commissioner declared social media a public health hazard in january 2024, citing increased strain on city resources to address the resulting youth mental health crisis. The city also attributes a rise in risky activities,such as “subway surfing,” to the influence of social media. police data indicates at least 16 subway surfers have died since 2023, including two girls aged 12 and 13 this month.
The city withdrew from a previously announced lawsuit in California state courts in February 2024 to consolidate its efforts in the federal case.
Google spokesperson Jose castaneda stated the allegations regarding YouTube are “simply not true,” arguing that YouTube is a streaming service, not a social network focused on interpersonal connections.The other defendants have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The city seeks to hold the companies accountable for the harm caused by their platforms and recover costs associated with addressing the resulting public health issues.”The defendants must be held accountable for the harm their conduct caused,” the city stated. “As things stand now, plaintiffs are left to remedy the nuisance and foot the bill.”
