Over 2,000 families have filed lawsuits against TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media services due to mental health concerns among children.
Approximately 350 lawsuits have been filed against the social media platforms Snapchat, Roblox, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
Concerns over Social Media’s Impact on Children’s Mental Health
Over 2,000 families have initiated legal action against social media companies such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. They claim that these platforms have caused mental health issues in their children, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
These lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across the United States, alleging that these platforms knowingly contributed to the decline in children’s mental health. Furthermore, it is alleged that these companies specifically targeted children through their advertisements, increasing the likelihood of addiction to their platforms.
One of the parents involved in the litigation, Kathleen Spence, has expressed her concerns, stating that these services are holding their children hostage and actively seeking to exploit them.
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The Dark Side of Social Media
Kathleen and her husband, Jeff Spence, have filed a lawsuit against Meta, the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg that operates Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. They claim that their 12-year-old daughter, who uses Instagram, is experiencing an eating disorder and depression.
Their daughter has admitted to finding ways to bypass the restrictions imposed by her parents on her phone. She disclosed that she downloaded a calculator app, which grants her access to Instagram.
The 12-year-old has stated that using social media has not improved her mental health problems but rather intensified her self-hatred. Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are among the most popular apps among teenagers and are now facing numerous lawsuits from thousands of parents in the United States.
In addition to these social networking apps, YouTube and the online gaming platform Roblox are also facing legal issues due to concerns about mental health among young people.
In May of the previous year, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a warning to parents, highlighting the negative impact of social media use on teenagers’ mental health. He pointed out that excessive use of social networking apps has led to anxiety disorders and depression among young individuals.
The Surgeon General referred to a recent study that demonstrated a troubling correlation between social media use and poor mental health. The study revealed that teenagers who spend more than three hours scrolling through social media or engaging with these platforms are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health problems.
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