Social Media, Our Children and the Class Actions That Could Change Things

 Social Media, Our Children and the Class Actions That Could Change Things

I want to talk about something that affects almost every family with a child who has a phone.

Social media.

Facebook. Instagram. Snapchat. TikTok. YouTube.

We talk about these platforms as entertainment, communication and “just what kids do.”

But something much bigger is happening.

Across the United States and Canada, governments, families, schools and lawyers are increasingly challenging social-media companies over the way their platforms affect children and teenagers.

And right now, Meta — the company behind Facebook and Instagram — is on trial in the United States.

Twenty-nine U.S. states accuse Meta of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that encourage addictive use among children and teenagers, while prioritizing engagement and profit over youth safety.

These are allegations being tested in court — not proven facts. Meta denies wrongdoing.

But the allegations are serious enough that they are now being argued in federal court. The case seeks not only money, but changes to the way the platforms operate.

And Meta isn't alone.

TikTok. Snapchat. YouTube.

All are facing lawsuits in the United States alleging that social-media platforms contribute to harm among young people. Thousands of individual cases have been filed, along with lawsuits brought by states and school districts.

And just this week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $400-million settlement with TikTok and ByteDance over allegations involving children's privacy.

$400 million sounds enormous.

But here's the question:

Is that accountability — or simply the cost of doing business?

Because while governments investigate and corporations negotiate settlements, children are still living with the consequences of what happens online.

Cyberbullying.

Humiliation.

Group-chat harassment.

Sexual exploitation.

Body-image pressures.

Algorithms continually feeding increasingly extreme content.

Addictive features designed to keep people scrolling.

And sometimes, devastating consequences.

This isn't theoretical to me.

My own child was bullied in a group chat.

I don't know everything that happened, and I'm not going to pretend that I do.

But I do know this:

I have tried to stay informed.

I have tried to keep talking about it.

And I believe we need to make sure other parents and kids know what is happening — because silence doesn't protect children.

WHAT ABOUT CANADA?

Canada isn't sitting this one out.

Canadian privacy regulators have already investigated TikTok and raised serious concerns about children's privacy, age assurance, consent, collection and use of children's personal information, profiling and targeted advertising.

And our federal government is also moving toward stronger rules around children's online safety.

So this isn't just an American problem.

It's happening here.

BUT WHAT CAN A KID ACTUALLY DO?

First:

If you're being bullied online, don't fight back.

Save the evidence.

Take screenshots.

Keep dates and times.

Don't forward harmful material around.

Block the person where appropriate.

Report the account or content through the platform.

And tell an adult you trust.

That might be a parent, grandparent, teacher, counsellor, coach or another adult who will listen.

The Government of Canada specifically recommends documenting cyberbullying, blocking the person, reporting the behaviour and getting help from a trusted adult.

And if you don't feel comfortable talking to someone you know, Kids Help Phone is available across Canada.

You can text CONNECT to 686868 and reach a trained crisis responder 24/7.

You can also find information about removing intimate images and dealing with online exploitation through NeedHelpNow.ca and report online child sexual exploitation through Cybertip.ca. The RCMP specifically identifies these as resources for young people experiencing online abuse.

WHAT ABOUT THE LAWSUITS?

This is where parents need to be careful.

You may see advertisements saying:

“Were you harmed by Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or YouTube? You may qualify for a lawsuit.”

Some legal organizations are currently seeking people who may have been affected by social-media addiction or related harms.

But a class action is not simply a website where everyone signs up and automatically receives money.

A proposed class action has to go through the legal process before it becomes a certified class action. Different lawsuits have different requirements, deadlines and definitions of who may qualify.

So if you or your child has been seriously affected, don't give personal information to a random Facebook advertisement or someone messaging you privately.

Go directly to the law firm's official website.

Read what the lawsuit actually says.

Check whether it is Canadian or American.

Find out whether it is a proposed class action, a certified class action, or an individual lawsuit.

And if you're unsure, talk to a lawyer before signing anything.

AND TO THE KIDS READING THIS:

You are not weak because something online hurt you.

You are not responsible for someone else's cruelty.

You don't have to handle it alone.

Take a screenshot.

Tell somebody.

Ask for help.

And if you see someone else being bullied, don't join in, don't forward it and don't laugh along just because everyone else is doing it.

You could be the person who changes what happens next.

TO THE PARENTS:

Don't just ask:

“What are you doing on your phone?”

Ask:

“What's happening to you online?”

There's a difference.

Know the apps.

Know the group chats.

Know how reporting works.

Talk about what to do BEFORE something happens.

And most importantly, make sure your child knows:

If something terrible happens online, they can come to you without being afraid that their first punishment will be having their phone taken away.

Because if we make children afraid to tell us, we make them easier targets.

This conversation isn't about hating technology.

It's about asking a very simple question:

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE?

Parents?

Schools?

Governments?

Or the billion-dollar companies that designed the platforms?

Maybe the answer is all of us.

But one thing is certain:

Our children should not have to be the price of doing business.

#ProtectChildren #OnlineSafety #Cyberbullying #SocialMedia #Instagram #Facebook #Snapchat #TikTok #ChildrensPrivacy #Canada