Arkansas Sues YouTube Over Addiction Claims

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has filed a lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company Alphabet, accusing them of contributing to a mental health crisis among young people through addictive design practices. The lawsuit, filed in Phillips County Circuit Court, claims that YouTube's algorithms and features are intentionally designed to keep young users engaged, leading to addiction and various mental health issues such as depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. The state argues that these practices violate the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and have unjustly enriched the companies at the expense of youth mental health. Similar lawsuits have been filed by Arkansas against other social media giants like TikTok and Meta. Google has denied the allegations, asserting that it prioritizes the safety and well-being of its young users.