Internal Google Document Reveals Chromebooks Shape Student Brand Loyalty

Internal documents revealed in a child safety lawsuit suggest that Google aims to integrate children into its ecosystem by investing in educational institutions. A presentation from November 2020 indicates that bringing kids into its ecosystem fosters brand trust and loyalty throughout their lives.

These heavily redacted documents emerged in connection with a significant lawsuit involving multiple school districts, families, and state attorneys general, who accuse Google, Meta, ByteDance, and Snap of developing “addictive and dangerous” products that negatively impact young users’ mental health. Snap reached a settlement earlier this week.

For over a decade, Google has focused on creating educational products, making Chromebooks a common sight in classrooms. The 2020 document also includes research showing how the brands of laptops used in schools influence purchasing decisions.

One slide in the presentation references a 2017 article from a major publication, emphasizing a quote that states Google is engaged in a competition to “hook students as future customers.” This quote recurs throughout the presentation: “If you get someone on your operating system early, then you get that loyalty early, and potentially for life.” The document also posits that YouTube in schools could establish a “pipeline of future users” and content creators.

However, other slides address the difficulties of introducing YouTube in educational settings, noting that the platform is “often blocked” and that “efforts to make YouTube safe for schools have yet to work.” The documents also recognize the potential effects of YouTube on mental health, with one slide from a 2024 presentation stating that “many regret time lost when they unintentionally ‘go down the rabbit hole,’” or that YouTube has “distracted” them from their work or getting to bed on time.

In response to the situation, a Google spokesperson stated that the documents “mischaracterize” the company’s initiatives. They clarified that “YouTube does not market directly to schools and we have responded to meet the strong demand from educators for high-quality, curriculum-aligned content.” They also noted that administrators have full control over platform usage and that parental consent is required for students under 18 to access YouTube.

Jury selection for the social media addiction trial is set to begin on January 27, 2026.