Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has announced a lawsuit filed in Phillips County Circuit Court against Google LLC, YouTube LLC, XXVI Holdings, Inc., and their parent company Alphabet, Inc., accusing them of deceptive and unfair trade practices in violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA).
“YouTube has deceived users and parents about the safety of its platforms for youth. YouTube has profited substantially off young Arkansans because it deliberately designed its platform to be addictive by using features to keep users engaged for as long as possible.
Griffin alleges that YouTube, designed and marketed by Google, has contributed to a growing mental health crisis among Arkansas youth.
With the majority of children aged 13 to 17 using YouTube daily, Griffin points to the platform’s role in fostering issues such as depression, self-harm, body dysmorphia, and increased suicidal thoughts.
“One of the gravest public health threats to children in the United States today is the soaring rate of mental and behavioral health disorders, including depression, self-harm, body dysmorphia, and increased suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide. This increase in mental health problems among children is the result of calculated efforts by social-media companies like YouTube to attract and addict youth to their platforms and to grow revenues without regard for the harmful effects that these companies know exist.”
Read: Google Suspends AdSense Payments To Russian Publishers
This lawsuit is part of Griffin’s ongoing effort to protect children and families from the dangers of social media. In 2023, he filed lawsuits against Facebook, Instagram, Meta, and TikTok for similar deceptive practices.
Earlier this month, Griffin also joined a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in urging Congress to pass legislation that would require U.S. Surgeon General warning labels on algorithm-driven social media platforms.
Griffin’s legal actions underscore his commitment to addressing the harmful impact of social media on children and holding companies accountable for prioritizing profits over youth safety.
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