ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. — Concerns over social media have led to a lawsuit.
Rockingham County Schools is suing several social media companies, blaming them for an apparent addiction.
The platforms include Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
District superintendent John Stove said too often school leaders sit on the sidelines when students are engaging in activities that could be harmful to them.
He said the district is now using its voice to solve the problems he said social media has caused students.
The school district claims studies show there is a connection between excessive social media use and negative effects on students' mental health, such as anxiety and depression.
A statement from the school district said the platforms are often fueled by quote " sophisticated algorithms designed to maximize user engagement. These algorithms are engineered to capture and retain attention by employing various methods such as personalized content feeds, notifications and 'likes' "
Superintendent Stover said social media use has led to bullying that's become harmful.
Bullying now is almost 24/7. Our kids don't get a break from it. It's hard for them to disconnect from social media. They want to be a part of their peer group," Stover said. "Incidents that start as minor misunderstandings can blow up into bigger incidents. It becomes a really big issue."
Stover said the purpose of the lawsuit isn't to get money but to get the social media platforms' attention and work with them to come up with solutions.
"Find common sense initiatives and measures to limit the access for kids," Stover said. "And have them be a part of teaching our kids about the pluses and minuses of social media and when to stop."
The superintendents made it clear social media can be valuable but said everyone has a responsibility from the school district to parents to monitor students' social media and protect them from the negative impacts it can have on students' well-being.
The school board voted to join the lawsuit last month.
Stover said lawyers are in the pre-filling stage and are recruiting other schools before submitting paperwork.