CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

INEZ — Martin County School District is going after big tech. The school district filed an 87-page lawsuit March 30 in U.S. District Court alleging social media platforms are causing a mental health crisis among students and have become a public nuisance.

The school district is asking for compensation for its efforts and resources to address the crisis.

The suit names Facebook, Instagram, Snap Inc., TikTok, ByteDance and Alphabet Inc., which operates Google and Youtube as defendants.

Ronald Johnson, an attorney with Hendy Johnson Vaughn & Emery of Louisville, filed the case that claims social media companies have designed their platforms to addict children and maximize the time children spend on the platforms

According to the suit, platform algorithms promote harmful content like violence, eating disorders and self-harm, and more students are acting out and engaging in delinquent or defiant and harmful behaviors, and need mental health services.