TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, among other social media services, are facing lawsuits from more than 2,000 families over mental health concerns among kids.
Roughly 350 lawsuits against Snapchat, Roblox, and the Facebook and Instagram parent Meta have been filed.
TikTok, Facebook, YouTube Sued Over Kids' Mental Health Concerns
According to CBS News, Over 2,000 families have filed lawsuits against social media companies TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, alleging that the companies' platforms have caused their children to suffer mental health problems. The serious issues parents are raising include depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
The lawsuit, filed in federal courts across the United States, alleges that these platforms have knowingly contributed to the deteriorating mental health of children. On top of that, they also allege that the companies targeted children with their advertising, making it more likely that they would become addicted to their platforms.
One of the parents suing the tech giants, Kathleen Spence, has spoken to CBS News. She alleges that the services are "holding [their] children hostage, and [they are] seeking and preying on them."
Kathleen and her husband, Jeff Spence, took the Mark Zuckerberg-owned tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. They say that their young daughter, who uses Insta, is suffering from an eating disorder and depression at the tender age of 12 years old.
Their daughter admitted that she has gone through the restrictions her parents implemented on her phone. The 12-year-old says she "pretty quickly" figured out a way around the limitations in her access. She revealed that she downloaded a "calculator" app, which gives her access to Instagram.
The 12-year-old told CBS that social media usage did not help her mental health problems. Instead, it made her hate herself more. As per NBC News, some of the most popular apps among teens are Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. All of which are now facing hundreds of lawsuits from thousands of parents in the US.
Besides these social networking apps, YouTube and the online gaming platform 'Roblox' are also facing legal trouble due to mental health concerns among youngsters.
Social Media and Mental Health Crisis
Last May, no less than Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called parents' attention. He warned that social media use among teenagers leads to various mental health issues. Some young minds are now grappling with anxiety disorders and depression amid excessive use of social networking apps.
The Surgeon General cited a recent study to point out the disturbing connection between social media usage and poor mental health. It shows that teens spending roughly more than three hours doom scrolling or engaging on social media are exposed to a higher risk of suffering from poor mental health.
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