Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has filed a lawsuit against Google LLC, YouTube LLC, XXVI Holdings, Inc., and parent company Alphabet, Inc. in Phillips County Circuit Court. The lawsuit accuses the companies of violating the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA) by engaging in misleading and harmful business practices aimed at young users.
Griffin claims that YouTube has intentionally designed its platform to exploit and addict children by incorporating features that keep users engaged for extended periods, contributing to a growing mental health crisis among Arkansas youth.
“YouTube has deceived users and parents about the safety of its platforms for youth,” Griffin stated, pointing to the alarming increase in mental health disorders like depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts among teens.
The lawsuit is part of Griffin’s broader effort to hold social media companies accountable for their impact on children. In 2023, Griffin also sued Meta and TikTok for similar deceptive practices. Recently, he joined 41 other attorneys general in advocating for federal legislation that would require a U.S. Surgeon General warning label on algorithm-driven social media platforms.
Griffin emphasized that his office is committed to protecting children from the dangers posed by addictive social media platforms.
To read the full lawsuit, click here.
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