Social media companies pay $34 million to settle a US school district’s lawsuit over social media harms, records show
A Kentucky school district has settled a lawsuit against social media companies for $34 million, claiming their platforms contribute to mental health issues among students. The settlement includes payments from major companies like Meta, Snap, and Alphabet, which have denied the allegations. This case is seen as a bellwether for similar lawsuits from other school districts across the United States.
- ▪The Breathitt County School District accused social media companies of designing addictive platforms that harm student mental health.
- ▪Meta paid the largest settlement amount of $9 million, while Snap and Alphabet paid $8 million and $2.01 million, respectively.
- ▪The school district sought over $60 million to address the mental health crisis and fund a long-term program.
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Social media companies pay $34 million to settle a US school district’s lawsuit over social media harms, records showSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxThe Breathitt school district accused the companies of designing their platforms to keep young users hooked, driving anxiety, depression and self-harm among students and leaving schools to deal with the consequences.ST FILEPublished May 30, 2026, 09:50 AMUpdated May 30, 2026, 09:50 AMA Kentucky school district in the US secured approximately US$27 million (S$34 million) in settlements from social media companies over claims they fuelled a student mental-health crisis, with Meta Platforms paying the largest amount at US$9 million, according to records seen by Reuters on May 29 that reveal the settlement’s financial…
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