--- title: "Meta, TikTok can be sued by mother of NYC teen killed while 'subway surfing'" description: "A New York state judge has allowed a wrongful death lawsuit against Meta Platforms and TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, by the mother of a 15-year-old boy who died while 'subway surfing.' The mothe" type: "news" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/246701211.md" published_at: "2025-06-30T14:19:50.000Z" --- # Meta, TikTok can be sued by mother of NYC teen killed while 'subway surfing' > A New York state judge has allowed a wrongful death lawsuit against Meta Platforms and TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, by the mother of a 15-year-old boy who died while 'subway surfing.' The mother claims the companies' platforms encouraged her son to engage in dangerous activities through addictive content. The judge ruled that she could pursue claims of wrongful death, product liability, and negligence, while dismissing claims against the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The case highlights ongoing concerns about social media's impact on youth safety. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) and TikTok owner ByteDance must face a wrongful death lawsuit by the mother of a 15-year-old Manhattan boy who died while “subway surfing” on a moving train, a New York state judge ruled. Justice Paul Goetz ruled on Friday that Norma Nazario can try to prove Meta and ByteDance “goaded” her son Zackery into subway surfing by addicting him to Instagram and TikTok, where he viewed content about “dangerous challenges.” Meta, ByteDance and Snapchat parent Snap (SNAP.N) have faced thousands of lawsuits saying their platforms are addictive, causing harm to children, schools and governments. Zackery Nazario died on February 20, 2023, after he and his girlfriend climbed atop a Brooklyn-bound J train as it crossed the Williamsburg Bridge. His mother said a low beam struck Zackery, causing him to fall between subway cars, which ran over him. She said she later found several videos related to subway surfing on Zackery’s social media accounts. Meta and ByteDance called Nazario’s death “heartbreaking,” but claimed immunity from user content under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, and the free speech clause of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. But the Manhattan judge said Norma Nazario could try to prove her son was targeted because of his age. “Based on the allegations in the complaint,” Goetz wrote, “it is plausible that the social media defendants’ role exceeded that of neutral assistance in promoting content, and constituted active identification of users who would be most impacted.” Goetz said Norma Nazario may pursue wrongful death, product liability and negligence claims. He dismissed her claims against New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority, saying common sense and “the realities of life in this city” should have signaled to Zackery that subway surfing was dangerous. Meta, ByteDance and their lawyers had no immediate comment. Norma Nazario’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The MTA did not immediately respond to a similar request. At least six people died from subway surfing in 2024, New York City police have said. The case is Nazario v ByteDance Ltd et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 151540⁄2024. ### Related Stocks - [BYTED.NA - ByteDance](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BYTED.NA.md) - [META.US - Meta Platforms](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/META.US.md) - [SNAP.US - Snap](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SNAP.US.md) ## Related News & Research | Title | Description | URL | |-------|-------------|-----| | Palmer Luckey Says Don't Trust A Boss Who Pretends Money Doesn't Matter, Oculus Founder Who Once Earned Minimum Wage Explains | Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus, advises employees to be cautious of bosses who claim money doesn't matter, reflecting | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276012773.md) | | Fake Milano Cortina sites target thousands with discount scams, cybersecurity firm says | Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has reported a surge in online scams targeting shoppers with fake Milano Cortina 2026 mer | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276149499.md) | | Financial Advocates Investment Management Lowers Stock Position in Meta Platforms, Inc. $META | Financial Advocates Investment Management reduced its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. by 66.7% in Q3, now holding 2,343 sh | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276432394.md) | | Ballentine Partners LLC Purchases 7,068 Shares of NVIDIA Corporation $NVDA | Ballentine Partners LLC increased its stake in NVIDIA Corporation by 1.5% in Q3, acquiring an additional 7,068 shares, b | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276430298.md) | | Snapchat launches creator subscription in the U.S. | Snapchat has launched creator subscriptions in the U.S., starting February 23, allowing users to subscribe to select cre | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276134934.md) | --- > **Disclaimer**: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.