JCPS to sue social media companies, including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram
Jefferson County Public Schools will file a lawsuit against multiple major social media companies, citing the negative health impacts their platforms have on students.
Board members unanimously approved a resolution to file the lawsuit during Tuesday's meeting, which specifically named YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook as companies that are "contributing to the mental health crisis America’s youth are facing."
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The resolution alleges that these companies have "designed their platforms to maximize the time youth spend using them and addict youth to their platforms," which in return has been "harmful to the mental, behavioral, and emotional health of youth and is associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and suicide."
The district plans to file its lawsuit individually, spokesman Mark Hebert said, "but it is likely to be coordinated with lawsuits by other school districts across the country against the same defendants."
The Seattle Public Schools system filed a similar lawsuit against social media companies in January and recently, districts in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida have followed, according to The Washington Post.
In response to such lawsuits, social media companies have pointed to their safety efforts and parental control features.
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But the JCPS resolution alleges the companies have targeted children and designed algorithms "to feed children harmful content, like videos promoting eating disorders, violence, self-harm, and suicide."
School systems, it continues, have been significantly burdened by this mental health crisis given schools are the main providers of mental health services for students.
Because of this, "JCPS believes it is entitled to compensation for its efforts and resources expended to address and treat the mental health issues caused by social media," the resolution states.
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The purpose of the lawsuit isn't to end social media "but to return it to its useful and safe purposes," it states.
Board members approved attorney Ronald Johnson and his law firm, Hendy Johnson Vaughn & Emery of Louisville, filing the suit on behalf of the district.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS board votes to sue TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat
