"Over one-third of 13- to 17-year-olds report using one of these social media platforms "almost constantly" and admit this is "too much," according to the complaint. Yet more than half struggle to cut back on their social media use, the complaint finds. In January 2024, New York City's health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard, placing a strain on the city's resources as taxpayer dollars went toward addressing the resulting youth mental health crisis, the complaint says."
"The ripple effects of the teen behavioral health crisis—including depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, disordered eating, behavioral problems, and ADD/ADHD—are estimated to reach up to $185 billion in lifetime medical costs and $3 trillion in lifetime lost productivity and wages, according to the nonprofit United Hospital Fund. The city alleges that the platforms' algorithms are designed to keep users scrolling, contributing to sleep loss, chronic absenteeism, and risk-taking behaviors. The suit singles out the phenomenon known as "subway surfing.""
New York filed a 327-page lawsuit in the Southern District of New York accusing Meta, Alphabet, Snap, and ByteDance of gross negligence for engineering algorithms that addict children. Over one-third of 13- to 17-year-olds report using platforms almost constantly and most struggle to cut back. The city's health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard in January 2024, straining municipal resources and prompting taxpayer-funded responses. Projected ripple effects include up to $185 billion in lifetime medical costs and $3 trillion in lost productivity. The complaint links algorithm-driven scrolling to sleep loss, chronic absenteeism, risk-taking behaviors, and dangerous trends like subway surfing.
Read at Fast Company
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