Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has announced a civil lawsuit against YouTube and its parent companies, Google LLC and Alphabet Inc., alleging that the platform has caused harm to young people in Nevada. The legal action claims that YouTube’s design choices and public statements have created an addictive environment aimed at children and teenagers.
The complaint states that features such as endless video feeds, algorithmic targeting, prioritization of content based on user engagement, constant notifications, disappearing content, and insufficient parental controls are intended to keep young users engaged for extended periods. The lawsuit also notes that YouTube’s primary revenue source is advertising directed at users while collecting their data. In 2023, YouTube reported $31.5 billion in revenue.
Attorney General Ford emphasized the importance of protecting minors from potentially harmful online environments. “One of the core responsibilities of my office is consumer protection, and there may be no more important consumers than Nevada’s youth,” said AG Ford. “Today’s litigation is a necessary step to ensure that our state’s youth are not exploited by social media platforms and that they can grow into adults without the addictive and harmful impacts that these platforms can cause. I will take every step to protect the children in our great state, and that includes holding accountable those who exploit and harm our youth.”
This action follows similar lawsuits filed by Ford's office earlier this year against other social media companies including Meta (owner of Instagram, Facebook, Messenger), TikTok, and Snapchat. These cases allege comparable harms stemming from product designs aimed at keeping young users engaged.
Previous efforts by Attorney General Ford have resulted in ongoing litigation against these platforms despite attempts by the companies to dismiss the cases. The first trial related to Snapchat is scheduled for January 2027.
Ford stated his intent to continue holding technology companies responsible for alleged harms affecting children in Nevada: “AG Ford is looking forward to ensuring yet another social media giant answers for the harms it has caused to Nevada’s children.”