Youth

Jury Deliberates as Former Youth Center Worker Faces Charges of Sexually Abusing Teens in His Care

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Manchester, NH – A former worker at New Hampshire’s Youth Development Center, Stanley Watson, stands accused of sexually abusing two teenage boys during the late 1990s. The allegations emerged in the Hillsborough County Superior Court North, where a jury of six men and six women deliberated following three and a half days of testimony. Stanley Watson, 55, from Allenstown, faces three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault involving the two teens, referred to in court by their initials, A.C. and C.S. The charges include serious allegations that Watson abused his position of authority to engage … Read more

California Judge Denies Big Tech’s Request to Dismiss Youth Mental Health Claims

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San Francisco, Calif. – A California state judge has rejected a motion by major social media platforms Meta Platforms, YouTube, Snap, and TikTok that sought to dismiss failure-to-warn claims made against them. These claims are part of a larger consolidated litigation accusing these platforms of causing harm to youth mental health through their specific app features. The ruling indicated that protections offered under the Communications Decency Act and claims of First Amendment rights do not extend to the platform’s design and interactive features. This legal viewpoint underscores the potential responsibilities of social media companies regarding … Read more

California’s Youth Protection Social Media Law Faces Partial Injunction, Judge Strikes Down Certain Provisions on First Amendment Concerns

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San Jose, Calif. – A federal judge in California has partially blocked a new state law intended to protect minors from potential harms on social media. This action comes after a lawsuit from NetChoice, a tech industry lobbying group, asserting that the law threatens free speech rights. The litigation centers around Senate Bill 976, known as the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, which was approved in September last year. It aims to restrict social media platforms from delivering addictive content to young users without parental consent. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila … Read more

Transgender Advocate Breaks Barrier at Supreme Court Amid Rising Legal Challenges for Trans Youth

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Washington, D.C. – In a landmark moment for transgender rights, Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to present a case before the U.S. Supreme Court on December 4, 2024. Representing a family challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, Strangio’s appearance underscores a critical juncture in the ongoing legal battles over transgender rights in America. The legal landscape concerning transgender issues has become increasingly contentious, with Tennessee among the 19 states that enacted laws targeting transgender youth in 2023. These … Read more