Arkansas has filed a lawsuit against YouTube and parent company Alphabet, alleging the platform has contributed to a mental health crisis facing the state’s youth.
The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Tim Griffin in Arkansas state court, accuses YouTube of violating state laws on deceptive trade practices and public nuisance. The state argues that the platform’s addictive nature has forced Arkansas to spend millions of dollars on mental health services for its youth.
The lawsuit also asserts that YouTube exploits children’s dopamine responses by feeding them harmful content. “YouTube amplifies harmful material, doses users with dopamine hits, and drives youth engagement and advertising revenue,” the lawsuit says. “As a result, youth mental health problems have advanced in lockstep with the growth of social media, and in particular, YouTube.”
While the lawsuit does not specify the amount of damages sought, Arkansas is asking the court to require YouTube to fund prevention, education and treatment programs aimed at curbing excessive social media use among children.
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In response, Alphabet’s Google denied the lawsuit’s claims, with spokesperson Jose Castaneda saying: “Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work. In collaboration with youth, mental health and parenting experts, we built services and policies to provide young people with age-appropriate experiences, and parents with robust controls. The allegations in this complaint are simply not true.”
The Arkansas lawsuit claims YouTube’s algorithm steers children toward harmful adult content and that the platform facilitates the spread of child sexual abuse material.
According to YouTube, it requires users younger than age 17 to get their parents’ permission before using the site, while accounts for users younger than 13 must be linked to a parental account. However, it is possible to watch YouTube without an account, and kids can easily lie about their age.
Newsweek reached out to YouTube via email for comment on Monday.
An iPad with the YouTube logo is pictured on an Apple MacBook Pro. Arkansas has filed a lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company, alleging the platform has played a role in a mental health… An iPad with the YouTube logo is pictured on an Apple MacBook Pro. Arkansas has filed a lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company, alleging the platform has played a role in a mental health crisis facing the state’s youth.
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Monday’s lawsuit comes after Arkansas also enacted a law requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts, though that measure has been blocked by a federal judge.
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The suit is part of a broader movement by state and federal lawmakers to hold social media platforms accountable for their impact on young users. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy this year called for warnings on social media platforms similar to those required on cigarette packaging, highlighting the potential harm to children’s mental health.
Alongside TikTok, YouTube is among the most popular platforms for children and teens, but it has faced criticism for hosting content that promotes gun violence, self-harm and eating disorders.
In response to these ongoing concerns and criticisms, YouTube in June updated its policies to restrict videos showing firearm modifications and homemade weapons, with these videos now limited to users age 18 and older.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
When John Calipari left Kentucky over the offseason to become the next head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, he brought three of his players with him, and all three are expected to play big roles with the Hoop Hogs this season.
One of those players is D.J. Wagner, a point guard heading into his second season of college basketball.
Fans got their first look at Wagner during the Razorbacks’ 85-69 win over the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks on Oct. 25 and he put on quite a show. Wagner led the Hogs in scoring with 24 points and he had four rebounds in 35 minutes of action.
“Just going out there and playing with confidence,” Wagner said after the game. “My teammates, my coaches tell me to go out there and play with confidence. If I’m open, shoot it, so just going out there knowing that they have my back like that, it was easy just to let it go.”
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In Arkansas’ second preseason exhibition game at TCU on Friday, Wagner scored six points on 3-of-9 shooting (0-of-3 3PT) with two rebounds, two assists, one steal and five turnovers.
HawgBeat will profile each key part of Arkansas’ roster ahead of the season. In this profile, we’ll take a closer look at Wagner, what he brings to the table for the Razorbacks, where he needs to improve and where he fits in the rotation.
Wagner’s freshman season at Kentucky was less than ideal, as he battled an ankle injury that took away from his athleticism and burst which, in turn, dropped his draft stock.
Make no mistake, though, Wagner has all the talent and potential necessary to make a huge jump from his freshman to sophomore season and be a force in the Southeastern Conference.
Now in a Razorback uniform, Wagner is healthy and looking to show NBA scouts he has the tools to be effective at the next level…
JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — Joseph Pinion’s 16 points helped Arkansas State defeat Akron 80-75 in overtime on Monday night in a season opener.
Pinion shot 5 for 6, including 4 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Red Wolves (1-0). Derrian Ford scored 15 points and added seven rebounds. Kobe Julien went 6 of 16 from the field (1 for 6 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points.
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The Zips (0-1) were led by Sharron Young, who posted 15 points. Akron also got 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks from Josiah Harris. Nate Johnson had 11 points and three steals.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT/Edited News Release) – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Monday, Nov. 4, that Arkansas will receive up to $13,535,086 as its share of a $1.37 billion settlement with Arkansas, 29 other states, and Kroger over its role in the opioid crisis.
“Opioid addiction continues to be a scourge in Arkansas and our nation. I am pleased with this settlement as the funds will go to opioid abatement. I am grateful to the bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general who worked together on behalf of their citizens to hold Kroger accountable,” he said.
Arkansas’s share will be paid over 11 payments through 2034. Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions.
Between 2006 and 2014, Arkansas was flooded with almost 1.5 billion units of addictive opioids. By 2016, Arkansas had the second-highest opioid prescription rate in the nation, with 114.6 opioids being dispersed for every 100 Arkansans.
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In November 2023, Griffin announced a grant of $50 million of the state’s opioid settlement funds to help establish the National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
You can read the settlement by clicking here.
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