Meta, Snap, ByteDance, and Alphabet will pay millions to settle a lawsuit by a Kentucky school district alleging their platforms contribute to student mental health issues. The settlement, which doesn't admit wrongdoing, is seen as a bellwether for similar cases nationwide.
Meta has settled a lawsuit filed by a Kentucky school district alleging social media platforms harmed students' mental health. This follows similar settlements by Snap, YouTube, and TikTok, as the case was the first of over 1,000 lawsuits against tech companies to go to trial.
Student mental health is a matter of great concern. According to the latest data from the Education Bureau, the number of secondary students with mental health issues has doubled over the past five years, from 660 in 2020-21 to 1,330 in 2024-25. In recent years, the government and various stakeholders in society have worked to halt the continued rise in student suicides. However, the number of suspected suicide cases still rose by 10 per cent between 2024 and 2025, from 28 to 31. To help...
