The Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Aaron Ford, has filed civil lawsuits against social media platforms TikTok and Snapchat, as well as three platforms owned by Meta: Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The lawsuits stem from allegations that the algorithms used by these platforms were intentionally designed to create addiction in young users and take advantage of the vulnerabilities of adolescents.
These lawsuits, filed in a Clark County court along with three private law firms, are specific to the state of Nevada and aim to “eliminate the danger to public health and safety” posed by social media companies. They also seek to recover compensation for “false, deceptive, and unfair marketing and other illegal conduct.”
The complaints argue that the companies created a false impression that their platforms are safe for users, violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and accuse the companies of negligence, product liability, and unjust enrichment.
The press release from the attorney general’s office stated that the platforms deliberately encouraged “problematic internet use” and caused harm to the mental health, body image, physical health, privacy, and physical safety of young people. Ford, a Democrat, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of children over profits.
The legal documents highlight in-demand social media features such as endless swiping, disappearing content, sharing, liking, and push notifications as manipulative tools designed to exploit developing minds for financial gain. The lawsuit also points out that each platform has a significant portion of users under 13 years old, the minimum legal age to use the applications, and cites testimony from whistleblowers stating that the companies were aware of the risks posed to teenagers.
In October, 42 state attorneys general filed a combination of federal and state lawsuits against Meta, arguing that Instagram and Facebook had addictive and harmful features for children and teenagers. Ford did not sign the lawsuit at the time, and his office did not immediately respond to questions about the timing of the new motion and his decision not to join the multistate lawsuit against Meta.