The tech companies that own Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube are being sued by New York City, its general hospital system, and its schools. The lawsuit accuses the companies of creating “addictive and risky” social media platforms that are contributing to a childhood mental health crisis that is interfering with education and using up resources.
The lawsuit claimed that because of the incomplete development of their brains, children and teenagers are more vulnerable to injury.
“Debtors’ platforms are now addicting youth in droves,” the 311-page complaint in California’s superior court—where the corporations have their headquarters—states.
As per the petition, the nation’s biggest school district, which teaches about a million kids, has to react to disruptions both inside and outside of the classroom, offer therapy for anxiety and despair, and create curricula regarding the dangers of social media and internet safety. According to Mayor Eric Adams’ office, the city annually spends over 100 million dollars on services and programs related to child mental health.
“We have witnessed over the last ten years how engrossing and overwhelming the internet world can be, introducing our kids to an endless supply of hazardous content and aggravating the national youth mental health crisis,” Adams stated.
The lawsuit is the most recent in a string of cases brought by governments, educational agencies, and other parties alleging social media corporations intentionally provide features that encourage children and teenagers to scroll through and check their accounts frequently.
As per a recent lawsuit brought by the nation’s largest public healthcare system, New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., the city of New York’s Department of Education, and youngsters themselves, teens realize they spend excessive time on social media but are helpless to stop.
The lawsuit demands unspecified monetary damages in addition to having the corporations’ actions deemed a public concern that needs to be fixed.
The tech leaders said in their answers to the lawsuit that they have developed and will continue to create and execute user safety-focused policies and regulations.
Google, the parent company of YouTube, sent an email to spokesman José Castañeda to say, “The claims made in this petition are not true,” adding that the business has worked with specialists in adolescents, mental health, and parenthood.
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