Schools in Canada's Ontario suing social media platforms for over $8 billion. Here's why

Several schools in the Canadian province of Ontario are suing social media platforms Facebook,Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat for more than $8 billion, according to local media reports on Thursday (Nov 7).

A dozen Ontario boards and two private schools are suing these social media platforms, alleging they have harmed the mental health and well-being of children.

Initially, four school boards- Toronto public, Toronto Catholic, Peel public, and Ottawa-Carleton public- filed their cases in March 2023 and sought $4.5 billion.

However, the list of schools has now gone up to 14, a report by the Toronto Star on Thursday said.

The updated list includesDufferin-Peel Catholic, York Catholic, Trillium Lakelands, Ottawa Catholic, District School Board of Niagara, Simcoe County, Kawartha Pine Ridge and Rainy River boards, and private religious schools Holy Name of Mary College School, and Eitz Chaim day school.

The cases filed against social media platforms

As perthe Toronto Star report, the 14 schools filed separate but similar cases in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice, alleging Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat rewired the way children "rewired the way children think, behave, and learn," that has cost them (schools) billions in staff supports and resources.

The schools also called the social media giants to make improvements to their platforms.

The report added that the allegations of the schools had not been tested in school, and the social media companies said they would defend the claims.

Speaking to the newspaper, a spokesperson from Snapchat said that the app was intentionally designed to be different from traditional social media.

"Snapchat opens directly to a camera — rather than a feed of content — and has no traditional public likes or comments," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Meta (representing Facebook and Instagram), told the Toronto Star said thatthe company wanted to reassure every parent that "we have their interests at heart in the work we’re doing to provide teens with safe, supportive experiences.”

Canada orders shutdown of TikTok's business in country

The above developments came as Canada ordered TikTok's business in the country tobe dissolved, citing national security risks, but added the government was not blocking Canadians' access to the short-video app or their ability to create content.

"The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd's operations in Canada through the establishment ofTikTokTechnology Canada Inc," Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)