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Friday March 29, 2024 | 1:05 p.m. WIB

Surya Lesmana / THE

Ottawa, Beritasatu.com – Canada's four main school boards have filed lawsuits against some of the world's largest social media companies, alleging the platforms disrupt student learning and create high dependency among children.

The school board, which is seeking $2.9 billion (four billion Canadian dollars) in damages, says social media platforms were designed for compulsive use and have changed the way children think, behave and learn.

“Students are experiencing attention, learning and mental health crises due to their prolific and compulsive use of social media products,” the board said in a statement on Thursday (28/3/2024).

The suits were filed separately but all identified as defendants Meta Platforms Inc, Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Snap Inc, which runs Snapchat, and TikTok's parent company, ByteDance Ltd.

“The influence of social media on today's generation of young people in school is undeniable,” said Colleen Russell-Rawlins, director of education at the Toronto District School Board, Canada's largest school board.

“This leads to widespread problems such as distraction, social withdrawal, cyberbullying, a rapid increase in aggression and mental health problems. “So it is very important for us to take steps to ensure the well-being of our younger generation,” he said.

The three other school boards involved in the lawsuit are the Peel District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.

Some studies show that platforms like Facebook and Instagram can be addictive and their long-term use can cause anxiety and depression.

In May 2023, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said there was growing evidence that social media use was associated with harm to young people's mental health.

Murthy said children are exposed to violent and sexual content on social media platforms, as well as bullying and harassment, and their exposure to such platforms can lead to sleep deprivation and separate them. of their friends and family.

According to a statement from the surgeon general last year, up to 95 percent of children ages 13 to 17 report using social media, while a third report using social media almost constantly.

“We are in the midst of a national youth mental health crisis, and I fear that social media is a significant driver of this crisis, one that we urgently need to address,” Murthy said.

Thirty-three U.S. states also sued Meta last year, alleging its products caused mental health problems in children and adolescents.

Meanwhile, in Canada, a Snap Inc spokesperson told Canadian media that Snapchat was intentionally designed to be different from other platforms. “Snapchat opens directly to camera, is not a content feed, and does not feature traditional public likes or comments,” the spokesperson said, as reported by CBC News.

“While we still have work to do, we're excited about Snapchat's role in helping close friends feel connected, happy, and ready to tackle the many challenges of adolescence,” he explained.