School district sues social media giants over children’s mental health issues

May 18, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter/Producer

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter/Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Editor/Digital Producer)

A Maryland public school district is suing Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. It is claiming that the social media giants and Big Tech are partially responsible for a worsening mental health crisis and rise in bullying among school children.

The 200-page lawsuit, filed by Prince George’s County Public Schools, alleges that social media companies designed their platforms without taking into consideration the consequences on a child’s mental health. The lawsuit states social media has played a role in the rise of eating disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts among teenagers.

“Unfortunately, students in our district and throughout the nation are confronting unparalleled mental health and learning challenges caused by their addiction to social media. It is imperative that these companies take responsibility for their role in this crisis affecting our youth,” Judy Mickens, the school board chair, said in a statement.

The lawsuit doesn’t specify the amounts of damages. However, the district is seeking financial compensation for mental health services it provides. In a statement to Fox 5, Google responded to the lawsuit’s allegations, calling the complaints “simply not true.”

Tags: Education, Google, Maryland, Mental health, Social Media

KARAH RUCKER: A MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SUING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, SNAPCHAT, AND YOUTUBE – CLAIMING THE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS AND BIG TECH ARE PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A WORSENING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND RISE IN BULLYING AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN.

THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES DESIGNED THEIR PLATFORMS WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONSEQUENCES ON A CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH.

THE LAWSUIT STATES SOCIAL MEDIA HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE RISE IN EATING DISORDERS, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AMONG TEENAGERS.

“PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS” FILED THE 200 PAGE LAWSUIT —

WHICH YOU CAN READ IN FULL ON STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM.

JUDY MICKENS — THE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR — SAID IN A STATEMENT QUOTE:

THE LAWSUIT DOESN’T SPECIFY THE AMOUNTS OF DAMAGES – HOWEVER THE DISTRICT IS SEEKING FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. IN A STATEMENT TO FOX 5 – GOOGLE RESPONDED TO THE LAWSUITS ALLEGATIONS CALLING THE COMPLAINTS “SIMPLY NOT TRUE.”