The recent lawsuits against TikTok by 13 states and the District of Columbia highlight concerns over the platform’s addictive design and its impact on children’s mental health. Danny Weiss, chief advocacy officer for Common Sense Media, stated: “For young people in particular, their brains are still developing,” emphasizing the difficulties they face in resisting the platform’s powerful algorithms. The lawsuits, which echo previous legal actions against e-cigarette manufacturers, argue that social media use is harming students’ ability to learn and increasing the need for mental health resources in schools. TikTok has countered these claims, asserting that it has implemented various safety measures for young users. As schools navigate these challenges, Weiss believes the lawsuits present an opportunity for educators to engage students in discussions about healthy social media use.
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