The families of four teenagers who died by suicide are suing Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging that the social media platforms are addictive and dangerous. The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Delaware, claims that the companies knew they were causing harm to young users.
Background
The four teens who died by suicide each experienced social media addiction, severe sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation after years of using the social platforms. The complaint alleges that the social media companies knew they were causing harm to young users.
A spokesperson for Google, which owns YouTube, said that providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to their work. Representatives for Meta, TikTok, and Snap did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Broader Implications
The lawsuit is part of a growing trend of lawsuits against social media companies over their impact on young people’s mental health. Federal legislation on social media has moved at a glacial pace, with the Senate passing the Kids Online Safety Act two years ago, but the House of Representatives never voting on it.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
