A rising concern over the impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers has prompted hundreds of school districts across the United States, including at least ten in Arizona, to file lawsuits against tech giants such as Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube. The districts contend that social media companies should be held accountable for the growing mental health crisis among adolescents.
Riana Alexander, an 18-year-old advocate for mental health, shared her personal experience of feeling isolated during high school and how she believes that social media exacerbated her anxiety and depression. “When you are struggling, and you see everyone having these really happy lives and everything, it doesn’t really help,” said Alexander.
Attorney Joseph Tann, who is representing six Arizona school districts, including the state’s largest district, Mesa Public Schools, argues that these platforms deliberately target and exploit young users. Tann maintains that over time, social media algorithms have grown more potent, promoting harmful and sensational content that directly contributes to students missing class, experiencing anxiety and depression, and creating a less conducive learning environment.
Tann clarified that the lawsuits are not intended to shut down social media apps but rather to demand improved protections for teenagers and increased funding for school districts to address these issues. “We are thinking that these companies who have profited billions, billions of dollars, should be responsible for contributing to the solution, not just the harm,” said Tann.
In response, social media companies have filed motions to dismiss the complaints based on the First Amendment and Section 230, an internet law that shields tech firms from liability for content posted on their platforms.
Meanwhile, Riana Alexander, who recently graduated from Chandler High School, has found solace and healing by reconnecting with friends and family and re-engaging with her community. She emphasized the importance of these connections in overcoming the challenges she faced due to social media’s influence on her mental health.
