Big Tech Faces Nearly 6,000 Lawsuits Over Alleged Mental Harm To Kids

The concern around children under 16 having access to social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, and others seems to be gaining momentum globally. The debate is no longer limited to Europe or Asia but is now growing in the United States, where many of these platforms originated.According to a Reuters report, nearly 6,000 lawsuits are currently pending against major social media companies over allegations that their platforms contributed to mental health issues among children and teenagers.The issue is back in focus after Meta settled a lawsuit filed by Kentucky's Breathitt County School District, the first school district case that was scheduled to go to trial. The case was set for a June 15 trial in California before

reaching a settlement.The lawsuit accused Meta, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok of designing platforms that keep young users hooked through addictive features, allegedly leading to anxiety, depression and self-harm among students.Malaysia Cracks Down On Big Tech To Protect Kids Online: Should India Be Next?The school district argued that schools have been forced to spend resources to address the impact of social media on student mental health.According to court records, the Breathitt County School District sought more than $60 million in damages. The lawsuit also requested funding for a 15-year mental health program and changes to platform designs to reduce addictive features.The case is particularly important because it was selected as s test cas for roughly 1,200 similar lawsuits filed by school districts across the US. Legal experts often use outcomes from such cases to help evaluate other pending claims and potential settlements.As per Reuters, over 3,300 addiction-related lawsuits are currently pending in California state courts, while another 2,400 cases involving school districts, individuals, municipalities, and states have been consolidated in federal court in California.Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Accused Of Misleading Billions On WhatsApp PrivacyThe companies have denied the allegations and maintain that they have introduced several safety measures to protect younger users.The legal pressure on social media firms has intensified in recent months. "In a landmark trial, a Los Angeles jury on March 25 found Meta and Alphabet's Google negligent for designing social media platforms that ⁠are harmful to young people, awarding a combined $6 million to a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child," Reuters reported.(With inputs from Reuters)