US public schools sued Alphabet, Meta, Snap and ByteDance

Seattle’s public school district filed a lawsuit against several major technology companies, including Alphabet Inc, Meta Platforms Inc, Snap Inc, and TikTok-owner ByteDance in the US District Court. 

The complaint alleges that these companies are responsible for a worsening mental health crisis among students and that their actions have directly impacted the schools’ ability to fulfil their educational mission. The school district claims that the companies in question intentionally designed their products to be addictive to young people.

In an emailed statement, Meta, the owner of Facebook, said that it had developed more than 30 tools to support teens and their families and will continue to work closely with experts, policymakers, and parents to address youth mental health. 

Google stated that it had invested heavily in creating safe experiences for children across its platforms and has introduced strong protections and dedicated features to prioritise their well-being. Snap also emphasised its commitment to the well being of its users stating that it works closely with many mental health organisations to provide in-app tools and resources. 

In the past, these companies have stated their aim to create an enjoyable experience for users, exclude harmful content and invest in moderation and content controls.