New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that his administration has filed a lawsuit against major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube.
The lawsuit alleges that these platforms are detrimental to the mental health of young adults and children in the city, prompting a bold move to hold the tech giants accountable.
The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles County branch of the California Superior Court, accuses Meta, Snapchat, ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), and Google of intentionally designing, developing, and promoting addictive platforms with minimal parental oversight.
Plaintiffs, including the city’s school district and health organizations, allege that these companies violated city laws related to public nuisance and gross negligence.
New York’s school districts and health services claim severe repercussions from children’s use of social media apps, leading to negative mental health consequences.
Mayor Adams emphasized the need to address the online world’s addictive nature and its contribution to the national youth mental health crisis.
In response to the allegations, representatives from TikTok, Google, Meta, and Snap defended their platforms.
They highlighted efforts to implement safeguards, age restrictions, parental controls, and features to promote safety.
Meta, in particular, emphasized its decade-long commitment to addressing online safety issues.
New York’s lawsuit follows similar legal actions against tech giants in 2022, with allegations of defective products designed to maximize screen time and resulting in emotional and physical harm. Lawmakers have also introduced bills like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) to advocate for regulation.
CEOs of major tech companies faced tough questions from lawmakers regarding their role in protecting children’s well-being.
