Pittsburgh Public Schools Sues Social Media Platform Over Marketing

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh Public Schools is suing social media platforms. They believe the marketing is targeting children and causing mental health problems for students.

According to Pittsburgh Public Schools Attorney Ira Weiss, the school district has spent millions of dollars to accommodate the needs of its students. Their lawsuit follows lawsuits by other school districts across the country against these companies.

Social media is known for keeping people connected, but its dark side is wreaking havoc among teens.

“Abuse, largely due to social media marketing methods, is having a negative impact on children,” Weiss said.

Pittsburgh Public Schools plans to file a lawsuit in federal court against all social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok. They said other school districts like Seattle are suing as well.The PPS says social media contributes to learning losses and increasing levels of cheating.

“There is no doubt that there is a link between all of this and this activity,” Weiss said on Zoom.

According to child experts, 96% of teens use social media. Many people use it for a long time and are at risk of problems.

“So the biggest risk for these kids is using them for 6, 8, 10 or 12 hours a day,” said AHN Child Psychiatrist Dr. Gary Swanson.

All faculty unions are in favor of the district lawsuit. Students said they would get into fights on the platform and bring the issue to school.

“This has to stop. Schools are too important, education is too important,” said Nina Esposito Vizitis, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

Teenagers, whose brains are still developing, are more susceptible to the negative effects of social media.

“They are constantly thinking about what is going on and not being able to understand some of the dangers and problems that are out there,” Dr. Swanson said.

Pittsburgh Public is cooperating with two outside law firms in this matter. They believe the case is similar to e-cigarette lawsuits targeting young adults.

“It’s a very similar kind of theory and analogies exist,” said Weiss.

The district plans to file a lawsuit in federal court within 60 days.