New York City is suing social media companies over what the city says is their roles in a mental health crisis among children.
Mayor Eric Adams says the lawsuit seeks to hold TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube accountable for fueling a youth mental health crisis. He says New York City teens spend an average of three hours a day on screens.
"Much of it focused on the endless stream of social media that has been designed with one goal in mind, keeping the user engaged for as long as possible."
The lawsuit alleges social media companies intentionally designed their platforms to addict children through algorithms. Meta released a statement saying "We want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online, and we have tools to support them and their parents."