More school districts are suing social media companies
Image: TTT
In January, we wrote about a lawsuit brought by Seattle’s public school district accusing TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook of contributing to an ongoing youth mental health crisis in America.
And when Seattle’s schools made this move, they may as well have been Ron Burgundy calling for his news team to assemble. Because since then, nearly 200 districts and hundreds of individual families across the country have joined their lawsuit.
🗣️⚖️ Their argument: That social media companies intentionally designed and marketed their platforms so millions of young Americans would become addicted.
- Schools say this forces their staff to waste valuable time addressing cyberbullying (as well as other disciplinary problems), adding new training and policies around social media, and counseling students whose addiction leads to anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
🔀 On the flip side: Social media companies deny these allegations, arguing many other factors could influence the youth mental health crisis – like Covid/remote schooling, political tensions, fear of climate change, less family time, etc. – making it impossible to isolate the impact of social media.
- The companies also claim the case should be dismissed on grounds their conduct is protected under Section 230, a federal law granting internet companies legal immunity for nearly all third-party content on their sites. A ruling on this motion is expected sometime later this year.
🤔 What does the science say?... Short answer: it’s complicated. A 2020 meta-analysis of meta-analyses (aka the gold standard of statistical reviews) found increased use of digital technology led to a small negative effect on well-being, but a causal link between the two was difficult to pinpoint.
📸 Big picture: The CDC’s biennial survey on US high school students’ health and well-being, published in February, found the percentage of girls who reported feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness rose from 36% in 2011 to 57% a decade later. That figure is nearly double the rate for high school boys, which grew from 21% to 29% over the same period.
đź“Š Flash poll: Do you think social media companies should be held legally responsible for the recent uptick in US students experiencing mental health problems?
+IMPORTANT: If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that while current evidence seems to point at social media companies being responsible for the youth mental health crisis, the reality is far more complicated – thus, more questions need to be answered before enacting any legislation.
- Others contend that leaked internal research from social media companies proves that they know their product is having an adverse effect on teens’ mental health, and that without timely government action, companies will continue to destroy our youths’ mental health for profit.
- “How to really understand if social media harms young minds” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “Social media is hurting kids. Why hasn’t government stepped in?” –LA Times Editorial Board
- “Don’t blame social media, Covid, for teen mental health crisis” –Niall Ferguson, Bloomberg
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that while studies have struggled to establish a causal link between social media and worse mental health, it’s plainly obvious a large majority of the general public that our society has changed for the worse since the introduction of social media.
- Others contend that the US government should enact a law establishing 16 as the minimum age to use social media, in order to protect early adolescents from the potential dangers those platforms can pose.
- “You don’t need scientific proof of social media harms to know you should keep your children off of it” –Timothy P. Carney, Washington Examiner
- “Why 16 Should Be the Minimum Age for Social Media” –Julie Jargon, WSJ
- “Teens and tech: states must help girls hurt by social media” –Jenet Erickson and Brad Wilcox, Deseret
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