BAYPORT, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A Long Island family is suing TikTok for bombarding their 16-year-old son with videos encouraging self harm ahead of his suicide.
Chase Nasca, a high schooler from Bayport, died after stepping in front of an LIRR train in February 2022.
The lawsuit claims he had no history of mental health issues, but that his TikTok “for you” page was full of violent videos encouraging self harm, including one that suggested viewers kill themselves by stepping in front of a moving train.
TikTok’s algorithm presents videos users are likely to engage with based on demographics and past interaction. Search results show Nasca was not actively seeking out the disturbing content, according to the lawsuit.
"He did not outwardly appear to be in distress," the family’s attorney told Newsday. "It was not until after he walked in front of the Long Island Rail Road train that his parents retrieved his TikTok account and found over 1,000 messages urging suicidal behavior, including specifically jumping in front of a train."
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance are named in the suit. When questioned about the lawsuit at a congressional hearing earlier this week, the company’s CEO insisted the social media platform is monitored by moderators and that an algorithm is in place to flag content that potentially breaks terms of service.
The family is represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center, a law firm that “works to hold social media companies legally accountable for the harm they inflict on vulnerable users.”
The suit also names the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Town of Islip for not building a fence around the train tracks.
If you are in a crisis or have a family member or friend who needs help, you are not alone. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
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