As we move through 2025, the impact of social media apps on society remains a hot topic. A recent legal case highlights this issue, as a New York state judge has ruled that Meta Platforms and ByteDance must confront a wrongful death lawsuit.
This case stems from the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy who died while attempting a perilous act known as subway surfing. Subway surfing involves riding on the exterior of a moving train, typically on the roof or between rail cars.
This dangerous trend has gained traction among teenagers in recent years, fueled by social media videos that often romanticize such risky behavior. While there may be a thrill associated with it, subway surfing poses severe risks, including fatal injuries caused by collisions with overhead beams or falls onto the tracks.
The case involves Zackery Nazario, who lost his life in 2023 while riding atop a Brooklyn-bound train. Reportedly, he and his girlfriend attempted this stunt when a low beam struck him, causing a fatal fall.
After his tragic death, Zackery’s mother discovered various videos promoting subway surfing on his social media accounts. This alarming finding led her to believe that platforms like Instagram and TikTok actively exposed her son to harmful content that encouraged such reckless behavior.
In response, the court has allowed Zackery’s mother to pursue claims of negligence and wrongful death against the social media giants. The judge acknowledged that her allegations, if substantiated, indicate that these companies may have done more than just host content; they could have actively promoted such dangerous material to vulnerable users, including Zackery.
Although Meta and ByteDance sought legal protections under the Communications Decency Act and the First Amendment, the judge ruled that those defenses were not sufficient to dismiss the lawsuit at this stage. As discussions around the dangers of social media continue, it raises the question: Are platforms like these harmful to young users?