Mocobizscene- Mayor Eric Adams took a significant step on Wednesday by filing a lawsuit that aims to hold social media platforms responsible for their role in exacerbating the youth mental health crisis across the country.
The City of New York, the Department of Education, and NYC Health + Hospitals have filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court. The lawsuit targets five platforms – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube – and aims to hold them responsible for their contribution to the youth mental health crisis in New York City.
A significant number of teenagers, aged 13 to 17, reveal that they spend an excessive amount of time on social media platforms, with more than a third admitting to using them “almost constantly.” Furthermore, a lawsuit reveals that in 2021, as many as 77% of high school students in New York City spent three or more hours each day glued to their screens.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies purposefully designed their platforms to be addictive for children and teenagers. They achieved this by incorporating features that utilize algorithms to generate feeds that captivate users and promote frequent usage.
The apps are designed with technology similar to gambling, which triggers anticipation and desire for “likes” and “hearts,” while also streaming personalized ads.
The complaint alleges that social media platforms manipulate and exploit users by creating a sense of obligation to respond positively to positive actions. They achieve this through features such as indicating when messages have been “seen” or “delivered,” which in turn encourages users to continuously engage with the platforms.
According to Adams, we have witnessed the addictive and overwhelming nature of the online world in the past decade. This exposure has had detrimental effects on our children, as they constantly encounter harmful content online. Furthermore, this has contributed to the worsening mental health crisis among our youth in the country.
“Our city thrives on innovation and technology, yet it is disheartening to witness how certain social media platforms pose a threat to the mental well-being of our children, fostering addiction and promoting unsafe behaviors. Today, we are stepping up with unwavering determination to ensure that these companies are held accountable for their contribution to this crisis. Our efforts to tackle this public health hazard are gaining momentum, as we work tirelessly on behalf of millions of New Yorkers.”
The filing comes after Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan issued an advisory last month, stressing the dangers of unrestricted access to social media. The advisory offers guidance to parents and guardians on how to protect children, suggesting that social media use be delayed until the age of 14 at least.
According to a study conducted by Pew Research, a majority of teenagers, 77%, use YouTube on a daily basis. A slightly smaller majority, 58%, use TikTok daily. On the other hand, about half of teens use Instagram or Snapchat daily. Surprisingly, only 19% of teenagers use Facebook on a daily basis.
According to the announcement, the lawsuit aims to bring about a change in specific behavior and recover the expenses incurred in addressing the issue. The city has invested over $100 million in youth mental health programs.
“Our children are currently experiencing a mental health crisis, and the main culprits behind this are social media companies who have shown a complete disregard for their safety and well-being,” emphasized New York Attorney General Letitia James. She further added, “It is our responsibility to address the harmful impact of social media, and I commend Mayor Adams for taking this crucial step today to hold these companies accountable.”
The document titled “The City of New York; The City School District of the City of New York; and New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. The United States Department of Education, Defendant” was written by David Caplan and can be found on Scribd.
Adams also presented a proposal titled “New York City’s Role in the National Crisis of Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Framework for Action.” The plan seeks to hold social media companies accountable, provide support and education to young individuals and families, and explore the long-term impacts of social media on youth.
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