Twelve Ontario school boards and two private schools are pursuing legal action against major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram, seeking more than $8 billion in damages. 

According to the Toronto Star, the lawsuit alleges these platforms have negatively impacted student mental health and learning, resulting in substantial costs for additional staff support and resources.

The litigation began in March with four initial boards seeking $4.5 billion and expanded to include eight additional public boards and two private religious schools. Each institution has filed separate but similar cases in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice. The first hearings are expected to begin in February 2025.

The social media companies are preparing to defend against these claims. 

Snapchat representatives emphasize their platform’s distinct design, highlighting its focus on close friend communication rather than traditional social media features. 

Meta, representing Facebook and Instagram, cites more than 30 tools supporting teens and families, including parental controls, age verification technology, and automated content monitoring systems.

In September, Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok united under the Thrive initiative to combat the spread of suicide and self-harm content across their platforms. 

The Ontario school boards are pursuing this legal action through a contingency fee arrangement with Neinstein LLP, meaning they won’t incur direct legal costs. This approach mirrors similar actions in the United States, where approximately 500 school districts have initiated comparable lawsuits. 

Duncan Embury, head of litigation at Neinstein LLP, points to recent U.S. court decisions allowing similar cases to proceed as evidence of the litigation’s merit.

The Ontario government has opted not to participate in the legal proceedings, stating a preference for direct collaboration with social media companies to enhance their platforms.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.