New York City has filed a sweeping federal lawsuit against Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok, accusing the tech giants of fueling a youth mental health crisis. The city claims these companies knowingly designed addictive platforms that exploit children and teens for profit, creating a “public nuisance” that burdens schools, hospitals, and law enforcement.
The 327-page complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges the platforms use manipulative algorithms that maximize engagement by targeting developing minds. NYC’s school districts and health department joined the lawsuit, arguing that the companies’ business models prioritize user retention over well-being, leaving minors exposed to harmful content and digital addiction.
The lawsuit highlights the role of social media in promoting dangerous trends such as “subway surfing,” which has resulted in at least 16 teen deaths, according to NYPD data. The deaths of two young girls, ages 12 and 13, while engaging in the stunt drew public outrage and renewed scrutiny of platform responsibility.
Survey data included in the filing shows 77.3 percent of NYC high schoolers spend three or more hours a day on screens. The city links this screen time to sleep deprivation and a spike in chronic school absences, now affecting over 36 percent of public school students. Officials argue that social media is directly undermining education and health in the nation’s largest city.
This lawsuit adds New York City to a growing coalition of states and municipalities seeking to hold Silicon Valley accountable. Over 2,000 similar lawsuits are in progress nationwide, accusing the same companies of exploiting minors through addictive technologies. With nearly 2 million children under age 18, New York City’s legal action marks one of the most significant government-led challenges to the unchecked power of Big Tech.
