Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta are facing a $4.5-billion lawsuit from four Ontario school boards. The school boards accuse these social media platforms of hurting students, interfering with their learning, and harming their mental health, leaving educators to “manage the fallout,” according to a local news report.

All four cases were separately filed by the public boards of Toronto, Peel, Ottawa, and the Toronto Catholic Board and are represented by Neinstein LLP.&nbsp;

<h2>Why are the school boards suing Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta?</h2>

Social media apps are designed for compulsive use (and) have rewired the way children think, behave, and learn, say their statements of claim. The plaintiff's statement of claim also says that the social media companies have knowingly and negligently disrupted and fundamentally changed the school, learning, and teaching climate.

Colleen Russell-Rawlins, director of education at the Toronto District School Board, told the Toronto Star, "We're managing mental health challenges, loneliness and … discrimination — the slurs that we're seeing students use, some of that emanates from what's on social media."

"The defendants knew, or ought to have known, that their negligent conduct seriously and negatively impacts the student population by causing maladaptive brain development, compulsive use, disrupted sleep patterns, behavioural dysregulation, learning and attention impairment, and other serious issues that impact the school, learning, and teaching climate," the statements of claim reads.

<h2>Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta face lawsuits in the U.S</h2>

Over 500 school districts in the U.S. have launched similar cases now against these platforms. In January 2024, CEOs of Meta, TikTok, and X among other companies testified in a US court hearing. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee said, “They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online. Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”

On March 25, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans children under the age of 14 from social media platforms. The bill also requires children aged 14 and 15 to get parental consent for using social media platforms.

Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta are facing a $4.5-billion lawsuit from four Ontario school boards. The school boards accuse these social media platforms of hurting students, interfering with their learning, and harming their mental health, leaving educators to “manage the fallout,” according to a local news report.

Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta are facing a $4.5-billion lawsuit from four Ontario school boards. The school boards accuse these social media platforms of hurting students, interfering with their learning, and harming their mental health, leaving educators to “manage the fallout,” according to a local news report. All four cases were separately filed by the public boards of Toronto, Peel, Ottawa, and the Toronto Catholic Board and are represented by Neinstein LLP. Why are the school boards suing Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta? Social media apps are designed for compulsive use (and) have rewired the way children think, behave, and learn, say their statements of claim. The plaintiff's statement of claim also says that the social media companies have knowingly and negligently disrupted and fundamentally changed the school, learning, and teaching climate. Colleen Russell-Rawlins, director of education at the Toronto District School Board, told the Toronto Star, "We're managing mental health challenges, loneliness and … discrimination — the slurs that we're seeing students use, some of that emanates from what's on social media." "The defendants knew, or ought to have known, that their negligent conduct seriously and negatively impacts the student population by causing maladaptive brain development, compulsive use, disrupted sleep patterns, behavioural dysregulation, learning and attention impairment, and other serious issues that impact the school, learning, and teaching climate," the statements of claim reads. Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta face lawsuits in the U.S Over 500 school districts in the U.S. have launched similar cases now against these platforms. In January 2024, CEOs of Meta, TikTok, and X among other companies testified in a US court hearing. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee said, “They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online. Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.” On March 25, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans children under the age of 14 from social media platforms. The bill also requires children aged 14 and 15 to get parental consent for using social media platforms.

Canada school boards file $4.5 billion case against Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta for 'deliberately' harming kids

A recent report titled 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' by WHO Europe reveals that cyberbullying among adolescents has surged by 13% over the past four years, with around 16% of adolescents experiencing cyberbullying in 2022.

WHO's regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge said, “This report is a wake-up call for all of us to address bullying and violence, whenever and wherever it happens.”

<h2>Cyberbullying: Gender disparities, and impact of parents' status</h2>

The report highlights gender disparities, with 15% of boys and 16% of girls reporting cyberbullying incidents in recent months. WHO noted that since COVID-19, virtual peer violence has become particularly relevant because the pandemic has shifted young people’s interactions online.

Contrary to beliefs, parents' socioeconomic status has little influence on children's behaviour, except in Canada, where less advantaged youths are more likely to experience bullying.

While cyberbullying rates have surged, other forms of bullying, like physical altercations at school, have seen a slight rise but remain relatively stable.

<h2>Regional variances: Which country has the highest cyberbullying rate?</h2>

Cyberbullying rates vary across countries, with boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova, and Poland experiencing the highest levels, while Spain reports the lowest, the WHO report covers 44 countries.

According to the report, one in eight adolescents admitted to cyberbullying others. “With young people spending up to six hours online every single day, even small changes in the rates of bullying and violence can have profound implications for the health and well-being of thousands,” said WHO's regional director for Europe in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-28-people-jailed-for-harassment-of-influencer-in-key-cyberbullying-case-702444">France: 28 people jailed for harassment of influencer in key cyberbullying case</a>

The report draws insights from a substantial dataset of 279,000 children and adolescents across 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada.

The report highlighting the need to combat cyberbullying noted, “There is also an urgent need to educate young people, families and schools of the forms of cyberbullying and its implications, while regulating social media platforms to limit exposures to cyberbullying.” 
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A recent report titled 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' by WHO Europe reveals that cyberbullying among adolescents has surged by 13% over the past four years, with around 16% of adolescents experiencing cyberbullying in 2022.

A recent report titled 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' by WHO Europe reveals that cyberbullying among adolescents has surged by 13% over the past four years, with around 16% of adolescents experiencing cyberbullying in 2022. WHO's regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge said, “This report is a wake-up call for all of us to address bullying and violence, whenever and wherever it happens.” Cyberbullying: Gender disparities, and impact of parents' status The report highlights gender disparities, with 15% of boys and 16% of girls reporting cyberbullying incidents in recent months. WHO noted that since COVID-19, virtual peer violence has become particularly relevant because the pandemic has shifted young people’s interactions online. Contrary to beliefs, parents' socioeconomic status has little influence on children's behaviour, except in Canada, where less advantaged youths are more likely to experience bullying. While cyberbullying rates have surged, other forms of bullying, like physical altercations at school, have seen a slight rise but remain relatively stable. Regional variances: Which country has the highest cyberbullying rate? Cyberbullying rates vary across countries, with boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova, and Poland experiencing the highest levels, while Spain reports the lowest, the WHO report covers 44 countries. According to the report, one in eight adolescents admitted to cyberbullying others. “With young people spending up to six hours online every single day, even small changes in the rates of bullying and violence can have profound implications for the health and well-being of thousands,” said WHO's regional director for Europe in a statement. Also read | France: 28 people jailed for harassment of influencer in key cyberbullying case The report draws insights from a substantial dataset of 279,000 children and adolescents across 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada. The report highlighting the need to combat cyberbullying noted, “There is also an urgent need to educate young people, families and schools of the forms of cyberbullying and its implications, while regulating social media platforms to limit exposures to cyberbullying.”

WHO report shows rise in cyberbullying, 1 in 8 adolescents cyberbullies others

Bangladeshi teen Sadat Rahman has been awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize for his work to stop cyberbullying of teens.

Bangladeshi teen wins International Children’s Peace Prize for combating cyberbullying

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