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An Ontario superior court has dismissed a motion from social media corporations seeking to eliminate a lawsuit filed by multiple school boards, which contends that these platforms are interfering with student education and the school system as a whole.
On Tuesday, Schools for Social Media Change announced that Justice Janet Leiper of the Ontario Superior Court issued her ruling on Friday in the case of School Boards v. Meta et al., rejecting the defendants’ request to dismiss the case.
The lawsuit, which began in March 2024, involves four of the largest school boards in Ontario taking action against major social media companies, including Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok. Since the initial filing, the number of school boards and institutions participating has expanded to a total of 14.
The complaint argues that the social media platforms are detrimental to student learning and the education system at large.
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The plaintiff schools and boards are advocating for the involved social media companies to “redesign their products to prioritize student safety.” They are also seeking financial compensation for the challenges posed by social media’s impact in educational settings, as stated by Schools for Social Media Change.
“The tech giants attempted to dismiss the lawsuit, but the court recognized the validity of the claims made by the school boards, allowing the case to move forward,” Schools for Social Media Change indicated in a press release issued on Tuesday.
Representing the boards in this legal action is the Toronto-based law firm Neinstein LLP.
“This marks an important milestone toward achieving justice for the education sector and, ultimately, for the future leaders of our society,” commented Duncan Embury, a partner at Neinstein LLP.
Schools for Social Media Change is a coalition composed of school boards, Canadian leaders, and organizations dedicated to safeguarding students’ right to education.
The assertions made in the lawsuit are yet to be substantiated in a court of law.
Source
globalnews.ca