Calling Social Media Dangerous to Students, Canada Sues Tiktok's Parent and Facebook

Also read: 41 States in the US Protect Children from Facebook-Instagram Addiction

The use of social media causes a crisis in learning and mental health for students. As a result, schools have to invest more in developing support programs.

The lawsuit was filed against Facebook and Instagram which are under Meta. TikTok, which is under Bytedance and Snapchat, is also the target of a lawsuit.

Meta and Bytedance have not responded to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Snap Inc, Tanya Johnson, said that Snapchat helps users stay connected with their friends. "Snapchat directly opens to the camera, not content uploads, and does not have a like button or public comments," she said.

Johnson mentioned that Snapchat is always ready to help teenagers face various challenges. "We are pleased with Snapchat's role in helping close friends feel connected and happy," he said.

Anxiety problems

District School Board member in Toronto, Rachel Chernos, said that teachers and parents are concerned about children's lack of social skills and vulnerability to anxiety on social media. In addition, there are problems with bullying and a tendency to seek attention through unconventional social media posts. Equally important, there are mental health issues among children addicted to social media.

"These companies have consciously created addictive programs that are aimed and marketed towards young people. This has caused significant harm, so we cannot remain silent and not speak out about it," said Chernos.

Toronto District School Board Education Director Colleen Russell-Rawlins also touched on the impact of social media on children. "It is important for the school board to take steps to ensure the welfare of the young generation," he said.

Also read: Social Media is Increasingly Less "Social"

The attorney for the plaintiff, Duncan Embury, referenced social media algorithms that trigger addiction. There should be appropriate warnings, changes to age parameters, and an increase in school board resources to adapt to the new reality of social media.

Another lawsuit

Canada is not the only country concerned about the negative impact of social media on students. Pew Research Center's study revealed that 33 percent of American teenagers aged 13-17 also admit to using social media almost constantly.

Also read: Social Media and the Risk of Concentration Disorders in Children

Various studies have shown that Facebook and Instagram can be addictive. Long-term access can trigger anxiety and depression. Consequently, prosecutors in 30 US states have sued Meta for allegedly causing mental health issues in children and students.

The issue of air pollution is not new. The condition of the community threatened by air pollution has been ongoing for a long time. There is also no shortage of research evidence indicating the threats posed by the impact of air pollution. However, in reality, this has not been able to push for significant efforts in controlling air pollution. Citizens are increasingly suffering from living under the siege of air pollution. The US government has repeatedly echoed the impact of US social media. The head of the US Public Health Corps Center, Vivek Murthy, stated that social media companies need to protect parents, teachers, and children from social media. "There is a lot of evidence to show that the use of social media is linked to risks to the mental health of young people," he said.

The material of violence, sexual content, bullying, and oppression is being exposed to children through social media. Many children spend more time using social media and are separated from their family and community. (AP/REUTERS)