LR School Board briefed on social media suit

The Fayetteville School District is among hundreds involved in a national class-action lawsuit on the harmful effects of social media on youth, according to an attorney for the law firm bringing the case.

Jade A. Haileselassie of the Motley Rice law firm said more than 500 districts have joined the suit. At least 28 states are represented, according to the firm.

The Fayetteville School Board voted 6-0 at its April 25 meeting to have Motley Rice represent the district in the litigation. Motley Rice is based in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

On Thursday, Little Rock School Board members heard a presentation from the Motley Rice firm. While board members expressed some agreement about the harm of social media on students, the board tabled making a decision about joining the plaintiffs until they could do more study.

Little Rock Superintendent Jermall Wright and his administrative staff have recommended participating in the case.

The crux of the case is that social media can be addictive and harmful to students and is a public nuisance in schools, forcing districts to spend money to battle potential ills, Haileselassie said. One financial example is districts investing in new technologies for monitoring school-provided devices, she said.

The suit seeks abatement of the social media nuisance, funding for preventive education and treatment of problems caused by excessive social media use and monetary damages, according to Motley Rice’s presentation to the School Board.

Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and Google/YouTube are named in the suit, according to a Motley Rice spokesperson.

Fayetteville is the first district in Arkansas to join the suit.