The Old Forge School District has joined a growing number of school systems in Lackawanna County and across the country in filing a federal lawsuit against major social media platforms. The suit, filed Friday, claims that the district requires immediate funding to address the mental health challenges and behavioral issues students face as a result of using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok.
The district alleges that the addictive nature of these apps has created a crisis that requires additional counseling and resources, shifting the financial burden onto the educational system. The social media companies involved have denied these allegations in their legal filings, maintaining that they provide safe spaces for connection and that student mental health is influenced by a variety of external factors.
A three month jury trial is scheduled to begin this June in Oakland, California, to address these consolidated claims. This trial is expected to serve as a major test for how much responsibility tech companies bear for the well being of their youngest users.
