The City of New York has launched a federal lawsuit accusing Meta, Google, Snap, TikTok, and other tech giants of worsening a mental health crisis among young people. Officials claim the platforms intentionally design addictive features that target children.
The 327-page complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, names Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms, Google and YouTube parent Alphabet, Snapchat owner Snap, and TikTok parent ByteDance. It accuses them of gross negligence and creating a public nuisance.
According to Reuters, New York joins more than 2,000 other lawsuits nationwide, including cases filed by school districts and local governments in California. With 8.5 million residents, nearly 1.8 million under age 18, the city is now one of the largest plaintiffs in the growing legal battle.
City attorneys argue that the companies exploit “the psychology and neurophysiology of youth” to increase profits and drive compulsive use. As a result, students suffer from lost sleep, lower academic performance, and higher absenteeism.
In addition, officials say social media encourages dangerous behavior, including the “subway surfing” trend in which teens ride outside moving trains. Police report at least 16 related deaths since 2023, including two girls aged 12 and 13 this month.
A Google spokesperson denied wrongdoing, insisting YouTube operates as a streaming platform, not a social network. The other companies have yet to comment.
New York’s health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard in early 2024. Consequently, the city said it has spent millions of taxpayer dollars addressing the crisis in schools and healthcare. “Defendants should be held accountable for the harm their conduct has caused,” the lawsuit states.
