District joins nation-wide social media lawsuit

[October 24, 2023] - In response to growing concerns over the negative impact of social media platforms on the mental health and well-being of children and teenagers, the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education (BOE) has announced its decision to join a nation-wide lawsuit against major social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, SnapChat, and YouTube.

The North Syracuse Central School District BOE was invited to join a lawsuit initiated by public entities, including many school districts, against the aforementioned social media companies. The lawsuit alleges that these companies have played a significant role in causing a mental health crisis among children and teenagers, making it increasingly challenging for them to succeed in school. At their October 23 meeting, NSCSD Board of Education members voted unanimously to join the suit. 

Daniel Bowles, the Superintendent of Schools for North Syracuse Central School District, expressed the importance of this decision, saying, "Our commitment to the welfare and education of our students is unwavering. It is our moral duty to protect the mental health and well-being of the children in our community. Joining this nation-wide lawsuit is a critical step toward holding these social media companies accountable for their exploitative conduct."

North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education President Paul Farfaglia spoke about the lawsuit, “In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that children and teenagers are spending excessive amounts of time on various social media platforms. While doing so, they are often exposed to harmful and exploitative content, which has led to a sharp rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among students. These issues, in turn, have had a detrimental effect on students' academic performance, school attendance, substance use, and behavioral problems, ultimately affecting the school district's ability to fulfill its educational mission.” 

The BOE's decision to join the lawsuit is motivated by the need to send a clear message to social media companies that profits should not be prioritized at the expense of children's health and safety. Moreover, by participating in this legal action, the district aims to obtain financial resources to mitigate the ongoing mental health crisis that has emerged as a result of children's exposure to harmful content on these platforms.

At their October 23 meeting, the North Syracuse Central School District BOE passed a resolution to appoint the law firms of Bond Schoeneck & King, PLLC, and the Frantz Law Group, APLC, to provide legal services related to pursuing claims for damages associated with the litigation against these social media companies. The board has also approved the contract for these legal services and has authorized Superintendent Bowles to take all necessary steps to become an active co-plaintiff in the litigation filed on behalf of school districts by Bond Schoeneck & King and the Frantz Law Group.

The North Syracuse Central School District remains committed to the well-being of its students, ensuring that their educational experience is not compromised by the negative effects of harmful content on social media platforms. By taking this stance, the district hopes to contribute to a safer and healthier online environment for all children and teenagers.