Hooked and harmed: NYC takes on social media giants over teen addiction

New York City is taking on the world’s biggest tech companies, accusing Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Google (YouTube), Snap (Snapchat), and TikTok owner ByteDance of deliberately designing social media platforms to hook children and teenagers, sparking a youth mental health crisis and straining public resources.

Filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, the 327-page lawsuit highlights how features like endless scrolling, variable rewards, and strategically timed notifications keep adolescents glued to their screens. Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat also exploit social pressure: read receipts, snap streaks, likes, and beauty filters push teens into constant comparison, feeding anxiety, low self-esteem, and addictive behavior.

The city says these tools are particularly dangerous for young people, whose brains are still developing impulse control. “These features worked together to addict young users and create the youth mental health crisis that New York City schools and hospitals are battling today,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit accuses the tech giants of public nuisance and negligence, demanding damages and an injunction to limit harmful practices. With 1.8 million minors in the city, New York says it has spent millions of taxpayers on mental health support and education for students affected by excessive screen time.

The complaint also highlights deadly consequences: dangerous behaviors like “subway surfing,” in which teens ride on top of moving trains, have killed at least 16 young people since 2023.

This case is part of a wave of more than 2,000 similar lawsuits nationwide, with states, school districts, and individuals seeking accountability for tech-fueled addiction. Google rejected the allegations, calling YouTube a streaming service rather than a social network, while other companies have not commented.

The case underscores the growing concern over how social media platforms affect adolescent mental health globally, from disrupted sleep and rising anxiety to risky behaviors, raising questions about the limits of engagement-driven design.