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New York City sues tech giants for allegedly fueling youth mental health crisis

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New York City has filed a sweeping federal lawsuit against Meta, Google, Snap, TikTok, and ByteDance, accusing them of addicting children to social media and worsening a mental health crisis among young users. The 327-page complaint, lodged in Manhattan federal court, seeks damages for gross negligence and public nuisance, alleging that platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok were deliberately engineered to exploit the psychology of youth for profit.

The lawsuit claims the companies’ products have contributed to rising rates of depression, sleep deprivation, and chronic absenteeism among minors. According to the city’s data, more than 77% of New York City high school students spend over three hours daily on screens, and 82% of girls report similar habits.

New York’s health commissioner declared social media a public health hazard earlier this year, citing growing taxpayer burdens to combat mental health challenges in schools. The city also linked compulsive platform use to dangerous behaviors such as “subway surfing,” which has caused at least 16 deaths since 2023.

The case joins over 2,000 similar lawsuits filed nationwide, now consolidated in federal court in Oakland, California. A spokesperson for Google rejected the allegations, saying YouTube is a streaming platform rather than a social network. Other defendants have not yet commented.

The city argues that the companies must be held accountable for the harm caused by their algorithms, which it says have created a costly and deadly youth mental health epidemic.

Waymo Returns to New York City for Autonomous Vehicle Testing

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Waymo, the self-driving technology unit of Alphabet, announced on Wednesday that it will resume testing in New York City next month, bringing its autonomous vehicles back to Manhattan streets as it scales up U.S. operations.

The company has formally applied for a permit with the New York City Department of Transportation to conduct autonomous testing with a trained human operator behind the wheel. While the current phase will begin with manual driving, the permit would pave the way for New York’s first official autonomous vehicle test deployment on public roads.

“This is not an expansion, but we have every intention of bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the city in the future,” Waymo said in a statement.

New York State law currently prohibits fully driverless vehicle operation — a restriction Waymo is now lobbying to change.

Waymo first brought its vehicles to Manhattan in 2021, conducting manual driving and data collection exercises. The latest push signals its long-term commitment to eventually offering robotaxi services in one of the country’s most complex urban environments.

The move comes amid heightened competition in the self-driving industry. Rival Tesla is expected to launch a limited trial of its autonomous taxi service with just 10 vehicles this weekend, signaling growing industry momentum.

Meanwhile, Waymo continues to expand in California. The company announced Tuesday it will extend coverage to more areas of Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Peninsula after receiving state regulatory approval last month.

Currently, Waymo remains the only U.S. company operating robotaxi services with paying passengers, delivering over 250,000 weekly rides across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin with a fleet of more than 1,500 autonomous vehicles.

What Looking Like Timothée Chalamet Taught Me About Fame

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The Start of a Unique Journey

It was an early, sleep-deprived morning. By 2 a.m., I was on the road, and by evening, I was in Manhattan. With my girlfriend as my support and secret-keeper, I was about to enter the uncharted territory of a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest. It was a quirky, unplanned opportunity that popped up online a few weeks prior, and it seemed too fun to pass up. The low-cost trip from upstate New York was manageable, and as someone studying graphics and multimedia marketing at SUNY Canton, I also saw it as a potential stepping stone toward networking in the creative world of New York City.

The Chalamet Comparison

When I let my hair grow out, people began to make the “Timothée” connection. Friends and strangers alike teased me about it, likening me to characters from “Dune” and “Wonka.” The comparison even led to an odd moment at a mall in Toronto, where employees at a “Wonka” pop-up display insisted I pose for photos, fully outfitted in character attire. That’s when the surreal aspect of resemblance began to sink in.

Arrival at the Contest

When I arrived at Washington Square Park, it was chaos. People swarmed the area, with phones raised, recording, snapping, and even asking for interviews. A sea of curious onlookers turned my first contest into a surreal three-hour experience. I saw the real Chalamet make a brief appearance, further electrifying the crowd. But I also saw the intensity of fame, even on this small scale, as officers dispersed crowds, even taking some lookalikes into custody for not adhering to the contest’s unpermitted status.

Learning Through Fame’s Lens

For those three hours, I got a taste of what real fame must be like: the invasive stares, the fascination, and the overwhelming attention. Although I planned my outfit carefully, opting for a sleek, casual look that mirrored Chalamet’s Chanel perfume campaign, the thrill was quickly balanced by a sobering realization. The winner, dressed as Willy Wonka and handing out chocolates, deservedly took the trophy, but I felt the reward wasn’t as important as the experience itself.

The Takeaway

As I returned to reality — eating tacos with my girlfriend and preparing for another week at the fishing store — I felt grateful. While the experience was exciting, the ability to step away from the glare of attention and return to a regular life was a privilege. Fame may offer allure, but it also exacts a cost. For me, being Timothée Chalamet for a day was fun, but I’m glad to be myself in the end.