New York files lawsuit against TikTok, Instagram, YouTube

The lawsuit alleges that tech companies are responsible for producing products that are ‘addictive and dangerous,’ exacerbating the mental health crisis

New York City, its schools, and public hospital system filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against tech giants including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. They blame these platforms for fueling a childhood mental health crisis that disrupts learning and drains resources, calling them “addictive and dangerous.”

The lawsuit highlights the vulnerability of children and adolescents due to their still-developing brains.

The 311-page filing in a California superior court, where the companies are based, states, “Youth are now addicted to defendants’ platforms in droves.”

According to the filing, the country’s largest school district, serving approximately 1 million students, has had to address disruptions both in and out of the classroom. They have implemented counseling for anxiety and depression and developed curricula on the impacts of social media and online safety. Mayor Eric Adams’ office stated that the city allocates over $100 million annually to youth mental health programs and services.

“Over the past decade, we have witnessed the online world’s addictive and overwhelming nature, exposing our children to a constant stream of harmful content and exacerbating our national youth mental health crisis,” Adams stated.

The legal action is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed by states, school districts, and other entities alleging that social media companies exploit children and adolescents by intentionally designing features that encourage constant scrolling and checking of their accounts.

According to the new lawsuit, filed by the city of New York, its Department of Education, and New York City Health and Hospitals Corp, the country’s largest public hospital system, teenagers acknowledge that they spend excessive time on social media but feel unable to stop.

The lawsuit aims to have the companies’ behavior declared a public nuisance and to be addressed, along with seeking unspecified monetary damages.

In response to the filing, the tech companies stated that they have developed and continue to implement policies and controls that prioritize user safety.

“The allegations in this complaint are false,” said José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, the parent company of YouTube, in an email. He stated that the company has worked with experts in youth, mental health, and parenting.

A TikTok spokesperson mentioned regular collaborations aimed at understanding best practices amidst industry-wide challenges.

“TikTok has leading safeguards to promote teens’ well-being, including age-restricted features, parental controls, an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18, and more,” stated an emailed response.

Nearly all US teenagers use social media, with about one in six teens describing their use of YouTube and TikTok as “almost constant,” according to the Pew Research Center.

A Meta spokesperson, representing Facebook and Instagram, stated that the company is committed to providing safe, age-appropriate online experiences for teens. They highlighted over 30 tools and features designed to support teens and their parents, noting a decade-long effort and the hiring of individuals dedicated to youth online safety. During a late January Senate hearing, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, expressed condolences to parents whose children took their own lives after being exploited and abused on social media.

Snap Inc, the parent company of Snapchat, stated that its app is intentionally unique. It opens directly to a camera instead of a feed of content that encourages passive scrolling. Additionally, it has no traditional public likes or comments.

“While we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement, we are confident in the positive impact Snapchat has in fostering connections among close friends and aiding adolescents in feeling connected, happy, and prepared to tackle the challenges of adolescence,” the statement added.