Arkansas Sues YouTube Over Allegations of Fueling Youth Mental Health Crisis

The lawsuit claims YouTube's addictive nature and harmful content have led to increased mental health issues among the state's youth.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed the lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company Alphabet, accusing them of violating state deceptive trade practices and public nuisance laws.
The state argues that YouTube's algorithms promote addictive behaviors and expose children to harmful content, necessitating millions in mental health services.
Google, which owns YouTube, denied the allegations, asserting they have implemented measures to provide age-appropriate experiences and parental controls.
The lawsuit is part of a broader movement by lawmakers to hold social media platforms accountable for their impact on young users' mental health.
Arkansas has previously filed similar lawsuits against TikTok and Meta, and enacted a law requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, though it was blocked by a federal judge.