There has been a rise in wrongful death lawsuits against social media platforms in the US, with parents alleging that their children have been harmed through exposure to social media. These lawsuits include cases where teens used social media to buy drugs or were exposed to dangerous content leading to harm. Social media companies like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have tools in place to protect teens, but parents are still concerned about the safety of their children online. Some cases have been dismissed based on First Amendment and Section 230 protections for tech companies, while others, like Jaime Puerta’s lawsuit against Snapchat, have been approved to move forward.
In response to the lack of movement from the courts and lawmakers, some grieving families are taking action by partnering with nonprofits, starting their own organizations, and advocating for change. Jaime Puerta, whose son died after buying fentanyl-laced drugs on social media, founded an organization called VOID to raise awareness about the dangers of these drugs and social media. Other families, like Gail Flatt and Norma Nazario, are also pushing for change by meeting with lawmakers to address issues related to social media addiction and mental health.
There have been reports of federal prosecutors investigating Meta for its role in the sale of illicit drugs on Facebook and Instagram. Families like Amy Neville, who lost her son to fentanyl purchased on Snapchat, are working to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies. Some parents are advocating for increased age requirements for social media access, as seen with a recent bill in Florida that bans children under 14 from having their own social media accounts. Jaime Puerta and Amy Neville, among others, are actively engaging with lawmakers and advocating for change in social media regulations.
Parents like Sabine Polak and Mileva Repasky are coming together to form organizations like the Phone-Free Schools Movement, which works with schools to restrict or ban phone use during the school day to create a healthier learning environment for students. Families are connecting with each other to find support and strength in their shared experiences, advocating for changes to social media platforms to protect children’s mental health. The power of community and advocacy is driving these families to continue their efforts to prevent further tragedies related to social media use.
Young adults like Cece Nelter are also joining the conversation, sharing their experiences of harm caused by social media platforms. Cece filed a lawsuit against Meta for pushing harmful content about anorexia and bulimia on Instagram. Parents like Donna and Chris Dawley, who lost their son CJ to suicide influenced by social media, are finding support from other families with similar experiences and advocating for change. Despite their efforts, these families acknowledge the ongoing challenges and pain of hearing new stories of children losing their lives due to social media-related issues, emphasizing the urgent need for social media companies to address these concerns and make necessary changes to protect children online.
