Canada's major school boards have taken an unprecedented legal step by introducing a class action lawsuit against social media platforms the world's largest, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. The lawsuit seeks compensation for 4.5 billion Canadian dollars (equivalent to approximately 3,069 million euros) due to the alleged damage caused to students.

The complainants consider that these social media platforms are designed in such a way as to encourage addiction among userswhich in turn has a negative impact on students' mental health and well-being. Furthermore, it is reported that these networks facilitate the dissemination of harmful contentsuch as hate messages and misinformation, as well as harassment among young people.

School boards also point to the additional costs schools face to address issues arising from students' use of these platforms. These additional costs include: mental health care resourcesanti-cyberbullying interventions and measures to combat disinformation.

The lawsuit, filed by the main school boards in the countryincluding the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto District Catholic School Board, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Peel District School Board, argue that the actions of the companies behind these platforms have been irresponsible and harmful for the student population and the education system as a whole.

In addition to requesting significant financial compensation, the complaining school boards request changes to application design of these platforms, with the aim of mitigating the negative impacts they have on the health and well-being of students.