Abstract
Seattle Public Schools filed a lawsuit on Jan. 6 against a number of social media companies, claiming their content has contributed to a mental health crisis among students, Cascadia Daily News reported on Jan. 7. The district's lawsuit claims that social media companies have purposely and successfully exploited the vulnerable brains of millions of young students throughout the country, and done so for their own profitable gain. Among the social media companies being sued are TikTok, YouTube, and Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram. Seattle Public Schools said the companies’ for‐profit business model aims to keep consumers using their products, despite risks to their health. The 92‐page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle details how each accused social media company purposely creates an algorithm to capitalize on vulnerable youth. With an abundance of content throughout social media, Seattle Public Schools claims misinformation continues to be amplified for students to consume. Cited within the lawsuit, the Integrity Institute found that TikTok boosted misinformation 29 times more than other content, based on view counts of videos. Seattle Public Schools seeks “the maximum statutory and civil penalties permitted by law,” alleging that the companies have violated Washington's public nuisance law.
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