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NY Post
New York Post
23 Mar 2023


NextImg:Parents of LI suicide teen break down at TikTok hearings on Capitol Hill

The grieving parents of a Long Island teen who committed suicide after watching hours of “psychologically disturbing” TikTok videos broke down during hearings on Capitol Hill Thursday.

Dean and Michelle Nasca, whose 16-year-old son, Chase, took his own life last year after receiving more than 1,000 unsolicited videos of violence and suicide, openly sobbed a US Rep. Gus Bilirakis recounted their son’s tragic death.  

“Your company destroyed their lives,” Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, told TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the teenager’s parents.

“His ‘For You’ page was sadly a window to discover suicide. It’s unacceptable, sir!”  

The Nascas filed their lawsuit against the Chinese-owned social media giant in Suffolk County Supreme Court on Tuesday, claiming their son was “targeted, overwhelmed and actively goaded” into committing suicide.

Dean Nasca, whose teen son, Chase, committed suicide after being bombarded with “psychologically disturbing” TikTok videos, breaks down on Capitol Hill Thursday.
AFP via Getty Images

“The TikTok defendants know that violent, dangerous, extreme and psychologically disturbing content triggers a greater dopamine response in minors than safe and benign content,” the 91-page complaint said.

“To maximize user engagement and increase profits, TikTok creates and co-creates such content and deliberately targets children in the United States with violent, dangerous, extreme and psychologically disturbing content from which they can’t look away.”

The lawsuit claims that Chase didn’t seek out violent content, but was allegedly targeted by TikTok and flooded with depressing and suicide-themed clips “several hours every day.”

Dean and Michelle Nasca at congressional hearings on TikTok.
Dean and Michelle Nasca, whose son, Chase, committed suicide after being “overwhelmed” with depressing TikTok videos, at Capitol Hill hearings on Thursday.
Getty Images
Dean and Michelle Nasca at congressional hearings on TikTok.
Dean and Michelle Nasca, whose son, Chase, committed suicide after being “overwhelmed” with depressing TikTok videos, at Capitol Hill hearings on Thursday.
REUTERS

On Feb. 18, 2022, the teen was heading home from the gym when he stopped on railroad tracks and messaged a friend on Snapchat, “I can’t do it anymore.”

He was then struck and killed by an MTA train in Islip.

The lawsuit names TikTok’s parent company ByteDance Ltd, TikTok Inc., the MTA, and the Long Island Railroad, as well as the town of Islip.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during congressional hearings.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled during congressional hearings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday over the social media giant’s impact on national security and youth safety.
REUTERS

The congressional hearings come as some lawmakers are pushing for a TikTok ban in the US over potential national security threats and alleged ties to the Chinese government — and content harmful to youngsters like Chase Nasca.

“With your two children, would you want them to see this?” Biliraki chided Chew. “I want you to warn everyone watching you may find this content disturbing.”