NYC sues Google and other social media giants over their addictive platforms

NYC Sues Social Media Giants Over Alleged Harm to Children

NYC Sues Social Media Giants Over Child Addiction

• New York City has filed a lawsuit against major tech companies like Meta, Google, Snapchat, and TikTok, alleging they are fueling a mental health crisis among children.

• The lawsuit claims these platforms intentionally design features to addict children for profit, exploiting their developmental vulnerabilities.

• The city, along with its school districts and health department, accuses the companies of gross negligence and causing a public nuisance.

• Google denies the allegations, while New York joins other states in this litigation, becoming the largest plaintiff with a population of 8.48 million.

Social media has the power to do tremendous good—raising awareness for important causes, connecting communities, and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard. Yet, its darker side continues to spark concern. Whether its impact is ultimately positive or negative, New York City has decided to take a stand. Teaming up with its school districts and health department, the city is suing several major tech companies that operate the world’s most popular social platforms.

According to Gizmodo, New York City has filed a lawsuit against Meta, Google, Snapchat, TikTok, and others, accusing them of “gross negligence” and “creating a public nuisance.” The city argues that these companies have contributed to a growing mental health crisis among children by designing platforms that intentionally foster addiction.

The 327-page complaint claims that firms like Meta and Google have built their platforms to capture and retain as many young users as possible. It further alleges that these companies are fully aware that children and adolescents are at a vulnerable stage of development, making them especially susceptible to addictive design features. The lawsuit states that these platforms use “algorithms that weaponize user data against children, fueling the addiction machine” in pursuit of profit.

New York’s case joins a broader wave of litigation across the United States. States including Kentucky, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, and South Carolina have filed similar suits. However, with its population of 8.48 million, New York City now stands as the largest and most prominent plaintiff in this growing national movement.

In a statement sent to the outlet, Google spokesperson José Castañeda said:

"These lawsuits fundamentally misunderstand how YouTube works, and the allegations are simply not true. YouTube is a streaming service where people come to watch everything from live sports, to podcasts to their favorite creators, primarily on TV screens, not a social network where people go to catch up with friends. We’ve also developed dedicated tools like Supervised Experiences for young people, guided by child safety experts, that give families control."