An internal Google document suggests that Chromebooks train school children to be loyal customers

Internal documents revealed as part of a child safety lawsuit indicate Google plans to “bring kids” into its ecosystem by investing in schools. In this November 2020 showGoogle wrote that bringing kids into its ecosystem “leads to lifelong brand trust and loyalty,” as previously reported By NBC News.

The heavily redacted documents, which emerged earlier this week, are linked to Huge lawsuit Several school districts, families and state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit accusing Google, Meta, ByteDance and Snap of creating “addictive and dangerous” products that harmed the mental health of young users. (Snap settled Earlier this week).

Google has it He spent more than a decade Invest in products designed for education, while… Create Chromebooks As a staple in the classroom. The 2020 document also includes a study on how laptop brands used in schools influence purchasing patterns.

Another slide in your presentation highlights 2017 story from New York Timesin bold, is a phrase that says Google is part of a battle “to attract students as future customers.” This quote appears several times in the presentation: “If you get someone on your operating system early, you will gain that loyalty early, and perhaps for life.” The document also suggests YouTube in schools can create A “pipeline for future users” and creators.

At the same time, Other segments He discussed some of the challenges associated with bringing YouTube into schools, including how the platform is “often banned” and how “efforts to make YouTube safe for schools have not yet succeeded.” The documents also acknowledge YouTube’s potential impact on mental health One show 2024 Show a slide that says “Many people regret wasted time when they inadvertently ‘fall down the rabbit hole’, or are ‘distracted’ by YouTube from work or even going to bed on time.”

In a statement emailed to EdgeGoogle spokesman Jack Malone says the documents “mischaracterize” the company’s work. “YouTube does not market directly to schools, and we responded to meet the strong demand from educators for high-quality, curriculum-aligned content,” says Malone. “Administrators retain full control over use of the platform and YouTube requires schools to obtain parental consent before granting access to YouTube to students under the age of 18.”

Jury selection for the social media addiction trial will begin on January 27, 2026.