Four major school boards in Canada have filed lawsuits against some of the world's largest social media companies, alleging the platforms interfere with student learning and lead to highly addictive behavior in children.

School authorities, who are seeking $2.9 billion (four billion Canadian dollars) in damages, claim that the social media platform was “negligently designed for compulsive use.” [and] they have changed the way children think, behave and learn.

Authorities said students were experiencing “attention, learning and mental health crises due to frequent and compulsive use of social media products.” statement THURSDAY.

The suits were filed separately, but all name Meta Platforms Inc as a defendant; Meta is the parent company of Facebook and Instagram; Snap Inc, which runs Snapchat, and TikTok parent company ByteDance Ltd.

“The impact of social media on today's schoolchildren is undeniable,” said Colleen Russell-Rawlins, director of education for the Toronto District School Board, Canada's largest school board and one of four targeted by the lawsuit.

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

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 that long-term use can cause anxiety and depression.

In May 2023, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said: “There is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to the mental health of young people. »

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

According to a statement from the Surgeon General last year, as many as 95 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds reported using social media, and a third reported using it “almost constantly.”

“We are in the midst of a nationwide youth mental health crisis, and I fear that social media is a significant driver of this crisis 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 the camera – not the content of the feed – and does not include traditional public likes or comments,” the spokesperson said. reported via CBC News.

“While there is still much work to be done, we are excited about the role Snapchat can play in helping close friends feel connected, happy, and ready to tackle the many challenges of adolescence.”

Asked about the lawsuit at a news conference Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he disagreed with the school board's efforts.

“Let’s focus on the core values ​​of education. “Let's focus on math, reading and writing, that's what we need to do: put all our resources into the children,” he told reporters.

“Let’s focus on the kids, not the other bullshit they want to fight in court.”