“This was only the first case — there are hundreds of parents and school districts in the social media addiction trials that start today, and sadly, new families every day who are speaking out and bringing Big Tech to court for its deliberately harmful products,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of the nonprofit Tech Oversight Project.“Borrowing heavily from the behavioral and neurobiological techniques used by slot machines and exploited by the cigarette industry, Defendants deliberately embedded in their products an array of design features aimed at maximizing youth engagement to drive advertising revenue,” the lawsuit says.“Plaintiffs are not merely the collateral damage of Defendants’ products,” the lawsuit says.“They are the direct victims of the intentional product design choices made by each Defendant.
They are the intended targets of the harmful features that pushed them into self-destructive feedback loops.”Popular ReadsTrump admin declines judge’s request to return deported college studentFeb 6, 8:26 PMGOP Rep.Lawler says image posted by Trump mocking Obamas was 'racist'Feb 8, 11:41 AMTrump says he didn't see full racist video, says he won't apologizeFeb 6, 10:09 PMJosé Castañeda, a Google Spokesperson, said that the allegations against YouTube are “simply not true.” In a statement, he said, “Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work.”In addition, more than 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.The majority of cases filed their lawsuits in federal court, but some sued in their respective states.TikTok also faces similar lawsuits in more than a dozen states.
In New Mexico, meanwhile, opening arguments begin Monday for trial on allegations that Meta and its social media platforms have failed to protect young users from sexual exploitation, following an undercover online investigation.Attorney General Raúl Torrez in late 2023 sued Meta and Zuckerberg, who was later dropped from the suit.—Ortutay reported from Oakland, California.
Associated Press Writer Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this story.
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