Maryland Schools Latest to Join Lawsuit Against Social Media Giants for Mental Health Harm

Heavy social media users are twice as likely to be depressed as light users, making it important for parents to consider limiting their teen's access or offering more beneficial activities. Eightshot Images/Getty Images

Several Maryland school districts, including Cecil, Carroll, and Montgomery County Public Schools, recently joined the growing number of U.S. school districts taking social media companies like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, to court, alleging the companies are designed to encourage youth addiction and are fueling a mental health crisis among young people.

“What we’ve seen recently—the game changer—is the actual mental health impact social media is having on students during the school day when they are supposed to be learning,” Cecil County superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Lawson told local CBS station WJZ-TV.