Social media companies sued over apps

In a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, the San Mateo County Board of Education and superintendent Nancy Magee allege that the social media giants designed their products for young people to the detriment of their mental health.

The lawsuit alleges that the platforms cause damage to schools, interfere with learning, increase absenteeism, and are even liable for physical damage to school property.

In a statement, Magee said: “There is solid scientific evidence behind the claim that social media is fueling the school-age child mental health epidemic.”

Representatives of the three platforms named in the San Mateo County lawsuit did not comment directly on the lawsuit itself, but highlighted the work they are doing to ensure the safety of their products.