- Four Canadian school boards have sought more than $2.96 billion in damages from social media companies such as Meta Platforms, in a lawsuit alleging their products harmed students.
- The joint statement said these products are “negligently designed for compulsive use, rewiring the way children think, behave and learn.”
- In the past year, 33 states have sued Meta, alleging that its products cause mental health problems in young children and adolescents.
Charges and high claims
Four Canadian school boards have sought more than $2.96 billion in damages from social media companies such as Meta Platforms, in a lawsuit alleging their products harmed students.
The products were “negligently designed for compulsive use, reconnecting the way children think, behave and learn,” said a joint statement issued by the board on Thursday. They say this has led to a learning and mental health crisis for students, resulting in schools having to spend more money on support programmes.
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Addictive social media platform
Several studies have shown that platforms such as Facebook and Instagram can be addictive, and prolonged use can lead to anxiety and depression.
Last year, 33 U.S. states sued Meta, alleging that its products caused mental health problems in young children and adolescents. The Canadian lawsuit also names TikTok, the short-video social media platform of China’s ByteDance.
The lawsuit was filed by the Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. More than 1,000 schools are part of the board. At present, the accused companies have not yet made a clear response.
