In the United States, schools have decided to sue the social networks TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. They accuse them of targeting young students by damaging their mental health.
Social networks are once again targeted for their impact on younger users. In the United States, the public solar district of Seattle is suing TikTok, Facebook, instagram, Snapchat, Youtube and their parent companies. A complaint was filed on Friday last. Seattle schools accuse the platforms of having a primary role in the ” youth mental health crisis “.
According to the complaint, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube knowingly target young users. Their goal would be to exploit and manipulate them to the detriment of their sanity. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of it. Facebook has even conducted internal studies to find out if Instagram is harmful to teenage girls.
Read also> How to permanently delete your Facebook account?
Social networks are accused of exploiting the youngest by taking advantage of their vulnerability
In the 91-page complaint filed, the Seattle Public Solar District explains that the networks voluntarily created addictive platforms that take advantage of the vulnerability of the youngest. It also claims that the algorithms of these platforms suggest potentially dangerous content to its users. For example, Instagram’s algorithm facilitates access to drugs and illicit substances by recommending accounts of drug sellers to young users.
Social networks would therefore be responsible for increased mental health and behavioral problems students in class. As a result, the solar district says it had to take costly steps like hiring mental health counselors and creating a social media curriculum.
The complaint details that: the defendants maximized the time that users, especially young people, spend on their platforms by designing and refining them to harness the neurophysiology of the brain’s reward systems so that users return frequently and stay on the respective platforms for as long as possible “. The Seattle Solar District is asking that social networks recognize their responsibility and modify their functioning to reduce their impact on the youngest.
Source : Gizmodo
