Houston ISD joins 200 school districts’ lawsuit targeting social media companies

• The Houston Independent School District has joined over 200 districts in a lawsuit against social media companies. These districts argue social media platforms are designed to be addictive.
• The lawsuit claims increased screen time leads to everything from physical, emotional and academic harm to death.
• Google and Snapchat have requested a judge dismiss the claims, citing legislation that protects online platforms from responsibility for content posted by users.

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The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the latest to join a growing legal battle involving more than 200 school districts and popular social media platforms. What started off as Seattle Public Schools filing a lawsuit in 2023 has since expanded nationwide.

Districts are claiming students’ mental health is deteriorating as they spend increasing amounts of time on their phones.

Board members demand action from social media companies

Last week, the HISD board voted to take legal action in federal court against the owners of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat. All nine board members called on the state attorney general to hold these companies accountable for the negative impact their platforms have on students’ education and well-being.

Social media blamed for student addiction, emotional harm

School districts across the U.S. are using a California courtroom to draw comparisons between social media and other addictive behaviors, such as gambling and cigarette smoking. The lawsuit claims social media platforms are designed to be addictive, leading students to spend excessive time scrolling, which in turn harms their physical and emotional health.

Court filings point to a correlation between increased screen time and worsened academic performance and mental health, with some cases leading to severe consequences, including death.

Districts’ demand changes and monetary damages

The districts are calling on social media companies to redesign their platforms and take financial responsibility for the resources schools have had to allocate to address students’ mental health needs.

In response, Google and Snapchat argue they should not be held liable due to protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from responsibility for content posted by users.

Each company involved has denied the allegations, with most citing tools and settings within their platforms designed to safeguard children.