2 Tribes Sue Social Media Giants, Cite Negative Impact on Native American Youth

Two indigenous tribes have initiated legal proceedings, alleging that major social media corporations are worsening the distressingly high suicide rates among Native American youth. 

Facing Legal Action Over Impact on Native American Youth

Filed on Tuesday in a Los Angeles county court, the lawsuit specifically names Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram; Snap Inc., the proprietor of Snapchat; ByteDance, the parent organization of TikTok; and Alphabet, the conglomerate that manages YouTube and Google.

Virtually all teenagers across the United States engage actively on social media platforms, with about one in six describing their usage as "almost constant."

Nonetheless, the lawsuit contends that Native American youth are particularly vulnerable to the addictive aspects of these platforms due to their profit-oriented design choices. 

Lonna Jackson-Street, chairperson of the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota, underscored the longstanding issues of teen suicide and mental health within Indian Country, attributing a portion of the problem to the strategies adopted by social media corporations. 

Associated Press reported that the tribes are pressing for accountability from these corporations, insisting that they take responsibility for developing features that intensify the compulsive use of social media among youth, particularly within reservations.

Legal Battle Against Social Media Giants Intensifies

In their legal action, the lawsuit outlines "a deliberate and sophisticated endeavor that has imposed an enduring, significant, and lasting burden on the Tribe and its members," diverting limited resources from crucial areas like education and cultural preservation.

A surge in comparable lawsuits involves various entities such as U.S. school districts, states, cities, etc. They allege that TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube exploit children and adolescents by incorporating features that encourage incessant scrolling and account checking.

For instance, New York City, along with its schools and public hospital system, accuses these platforms of contributing to a childhood mental health crisis, disrupting education, and depleting resources. Similarly, school boards in Ontario, Canada, argue that platforms engineered for compulsive use have fundamentally altered children's cognition, behavior, and learning patterns.

Google refuted the allegations, stating, "The allegations in these complaints are simply not true." Spokesperson José Castañeda emphasized their commitment to ensuring young users a safer and healthier online experience. 

Castañeda highlighted their collaboration with youth, mental health professionals, and parenting experts in crafting services and policies to provide age-appropriate experiences and robust parental controls.

Snap Inc. outlined its approach, offering an alternative to a continuous online content feed. The company expressed its ongoing dedication to improving Snapchat as a platform that fosters connections among close friends and supports adolescents as they navigate various challenges.

Also read: Mental Health of Kids a 'National Emergency' As Per Top Pediatric Organizations--Is Increased Tech Dependence To Blame?

Native Americans have seen a sharp rise in suicide rates, outpacing the overall U.S. population, according to CDC data. Accessing mental health care is challenging, compounded by historical colonization and social stigma. 

Despite this, social media offers connections to culture for many Native Americans, although discrimination online is a concern.

Andrea Wiglesworth, a researcher and member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation and Shawnee Tribe, notes the complexity of Native American identity, which varies across tribes and communities, adding to existing social pressures.

Related Article: Meta, TikTok, YouTube Fuel Youth Mental Health Crisis, Claims New York Lawsuit