Four major Ontario school boards have decided to take legal action against some of the largest social media companies in the world. The Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and Toronto’s Catholic School Board are suing Meta Platforms Inc., Snap Inc., and ByteDance Ltd., the companies behind Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, respectively. These school boards are seeking a total of $4.5 billion in damages, alleging that the design of these social media platforms has had a detrimental impact on the way children think, behave, and learn, as well as on the functioning of schools.
Rachel Chernos Lin, the chair of the Toronto District School Board, stated that these social media companies have created products that are addictive and specifically targeted towards children. The school boards, under a coalition named Schools for Social Media Change, claim that the platforms have contributed to an “attention, learning, and mental health crisis” among students due to their compulsive use.
These social media giants are accused of facilitating cyberbullying, harassment, hate speech, and misinformation, leading to an increase in violence and conflicts within schools. The school boards argue that the platforms are purposely designed to deliver harmful content, including topics such as suicidal ideation, drugs, self-harm, and sexual activity without consent.
The lawsuit is being represented by Neinstein LLP, and the school boards are not responsible for any costs related to the suit unless a successful outcome is reached. Duncan Embury, a partner at Neinstein, believes that this case is the first of its kind in Canada and that more school boards could follow suit in the future.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed disagreement with the school boards’ decision to sue the social media companies, emphasizing the provincial ban on cellphones in classrooms. However, parents with children in the Toronto District School Board have varying opinions on the matter, with some suggesting stricter regulation of phone use in schools while others support taking legal action against tech giants to reduce harm caused by their apps.
As the legal battle unfolds, it raises questions about the responsibility of social media companies in safeguarding the well-being of young users and the impact of these platforms on the education system. The outcome of this case could potentially set a precedent for similar lawsuits in the future, both in Canada and beyond.
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