We are representing school districts across the country that have filed lawsuits against social media companies over the costs associated with supporting students’ increasing needs for mental, behavioral, and emotional health resources. School districts are on the frontlines of a nationwide youth mental health crisis fueled by addictive social media products. With so many young people in turmoil, schools have been forced to divert crucial resources to help students in need of mental health services.
Social Media Addiction
American children and teenagers are facing an unprecedented mental health epidemic, with top researchers and government agencies observing a dramatic increase in youth mental health crises over the course of the last decade. According to the most recent data from the CDC’s bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey, in 2021, 42% of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, up from 28% in 2011.
This decline in youth mental health has been directly correlated with the widespread adoption of social media. The connection here is an overuse of social media caused by apps designed to addict kids. Social media companies are intentionally designing their products to keep children engaged as long as possible and, in many cases, leading them to dangerous content affecting their mental health. Teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable to the catastrophic effects of social media addiction, including depression, self-harm, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and injury of suicide.
To seek justice and hold these social media giants accountable, we are now turning to our justice system to pressure social media companies to address the physical and psychological harm children have suffered as a result of social media addiction.
How We Can Help You
Social media companies including Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap, which own and operate the largest social media platforms in the world are facing wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits. This litigation is filed on behalf of minors affected by severe mental and physical harms caused by their products, including mental health problems, eating disorders, and suicide.
We are currently representing school districts in South Carolina and Maryland, including Harford County Public Schools. The lawsuits seek both monetary damages and injunctive relief, which would require social media companies to make changes to their addictive algorithms and other adjustments to the designs of their products.
BMBF attorneys are reviewing these accusations to help support impacted children, families, and schools in their search for answers. BMBF is prepared to help hold social media companies accountable.
In the News
- WIS 10 | 8 SC school districts sue tech giants over social media’s effects on students’ mental health
- Fox News | Social media giants like TikTok, YouTube fuel ‘youth mental health crisis,’ school boards claim in lawsuit
- The Daily Record | Anne Arundel joins parade of school districts suing social media giants
- Capital Gazette | Anne Arundel school board joins lawsuit against social media companies, alleging a role in youth mental health crisis
- WCNC Charlotte | CMS sues social media companies
- Queen City News | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools joins nationwide suit against social media giants
- CBS Baltimore | Howard County schools sue social media companies over impact to student mental health
- NBC 4 | Prince George’s Schools Sue Social Media Companies Over Mental Health Effects
