New York City, its schools and public hospital system have filed a lawsuit against the tech companies behind Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, accusing them of creating 'addictive and dangerous' products that fuel a youth mental health crisis. The 311-page filing in California superior court claims that children and adolescents are especially susceptible to harm because their brains are not fully developed.
The lawsuit alleges that the platforms are designed to keep young users endlessly scrolling and checking accounts, leading to addiction. The city’s school district, the largest in the US with about one million students, has had to respond to classroom disruptions, provide counselling for anxiety and depression, and develop curricula on social media effects and online safety. Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city spends over $100 million annually on youth mental health programmes.
In response, the companies emphasised their safety measures. A YouTube spokesperson said the allegations are 'simply not true', citing collaborations with youth and mental health experts. TikTok noted its industry-leading safeguards, including age restrictions and a 60-minute time limit for under-18s. Meta pointed to over 30 tools for teens and parents, while Snapchat highlighted its camera-first design to discourage passive scrolling.
The lawsuit seeks to have the companies’ conduct declared a public nuisance and unspecified monetary damages. It follows numerous similar legal actions by states and school districts across the US. According to Pew Research, virtually all US teenagers use social media, with about one in six describing their use of YouTube and TikTok as 'almost constant'.
