D155, D26 Join Suit Against TikTok, Instagram Over Mental Health Woes

CRYSTAL LAKE AND CARY, IL — Two local schools districts have joined a nationwide fight against social media companies that some school officials say have caused more mental health issues for children.

In April, Frantz Law Group, which is based in California, filed a lawsuit against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, and districts 155 and 26 — along with more than 800 school districts nationwide — have also joined the suit, according to the Northwest Herald. According to a statement provided by the law firm, officials say the content shared through the social media companies' platforms are harmful and exploitive and promote cyberbullying, disordered eating and unhealthy social comparisons.

READ MORE: Counselor Offers Mental Health, Social Media Tips For Students

District 155 has upped its counseling services as more students seek help due to mental health concerns that are directly or indirectly tied to social media, and District 26 officials say they have increased the number of social workers to help students dealing with mental health issues, the Northwest Herald is reporting.

“Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that a number of companies designed addictive apps and subsequently marketed them to students who are uniquely susceptible to manipulation,” District 155 director of communications Shannon Podzimek told the Northwest Herald in an email response.

More via the Northwest Herald