New York City’s Mayor, Eric Adams, declared on Wednesday the city’s decision to sue four major social media platforms – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, alleges that these platforms have played a significant role in fueling a national and local youth mental health crisis.
Adams emphasized that these platforms intentionally designed their algorithms to manipulate and addict children and teens to social media applications. He cited the non-stop stream of harmful content and the compulsive use encouraged by these platforms as key factors contributing to the crisis.
The lawsuit accuses the social media giants of leveraging reciprocity to keep users engaged, perpetuating online interaction and immediate responses. This, according to the lawsuit, has led to detrimental effects on the mental health of young users.
New York City joins numerous school districts across the nation in legal action against these tech companies, aiming to compel them to change their behavior and address the public health threat they pose. The city seeks to recover the costs associated with addressing youth mental health issues.
Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan recently declared social media a public health threat, issuing recommendations to protect children, including delaying social media use until the age of 14.
In response, Meta stated its commitment to keeping young people safe online, highlighting over 30 tools and features aimed at supporting teens and their parents. Snapchat emphasized its unique design focused on close friend communication, while TikTok highlighted its industry-leading safeguards for teen well-being.
As the legal battle unfolds, the implications for social media regulation and the well-being of young users remain at the forefront of public discourse.