Columbus schools join lawsuit against social media giants
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Columbus City Schools will join a sprawling national lawsuit that says social media platforms harm children and leave schools to deal with the consequences.
Why it matters: It's part of a growing push to hold the companies behind apps like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube accountable for what the lawsuit claims are addictive designs.
- CCS hopes not only for a payout, but "meaningful changes," including "stronger youth safety requirements" and "design changes that limit addictive features," spokesperson Michael Brown tells Axios.
Driving the news: The school board voted Tuesday to allow the district to join the suit.
- Columbus students' "excessive and problematic" social media use has forced the district to spend money on counseling, mental health services, staff training and more, a board resolution says.
- The California case dates back to 2022 and now involves over a thousand districts, including Cincinnati and a few others in Ohio. Columbus appears to be the first locally to join.
The other side: The companies have argued in court the plaintiffs' costs are too indirectly connected to their platforms to hold them legally responsible.
Follow the money: It's too early to estimate how much money CCS might gain, but any recovery would be "reinvested in the well-being of our students," Brown says.
- Local law firm Grossman & Kelly, representing the district, would also receive a fee.
Context: In May, a small Kentucky district selected as a bellwether case reached a $27 million settlement before going to trial — more than a year's budget for the district.
- Columbus' annual operating budget, for comparison, is over $1 billion.
The big picture: The legal pressure isn't limited to schools.
- Last month, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta agreed to a $17 billion settlement with 47 states, which included plans for new youth safety measures. Ohio is set to receive over $300 million.
- In March, a California jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a trial brought on by an individual user, awarding her $3 million.
Plus: Ohio has tried to regulate youth social media use directly, with a law passed in 2023 requiring parental consent for users under 16.
- The law remains blocked while tech industry group NetChoice prepares to take it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
What's next: The next school trials, involving districts in Arizona and South Carolina, are scheduled for February 2027.