SW New Mexico News

Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) in New Mexico has decided to join a legal initiative involving over 200 school districts across the United States. The districts aim to hold major social media companies accountable for the negative impact their platforms have on students' mental health. LCPS has retained attorneys from Singleton Schreiber, LLP and Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP to represent them in this case against companies like Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap, Inc.

The LCPS Board of Education voted on September 3 to enter into a limited engagement agreement with the law firms. This decision aligns with a broader movement among school districts that allege social media platforms are designed in ways that foster addiction among adolescents, contributing to a mental health crisis.

Brian Colón, Managing Partner of Singleton Schreiber New Mexico and attorney for the district, stated: "When children become hooked on these platforms and are exposed to harmful content, they face a heightened risk of depression, anxiety and other serious mental health issues. We seek to hold social media companies accountable for the damage their platforms have caused."

The U.S. Surgeon General has highlighted the need for health warnings on social media usage by young people due to its significant links to mental health harm. In schools, the anonymity offered by social media can exacerbate bullying compared to traditional face-to-face interactions. This has led LCPS to implement measures such as anonymous reporting apps for incidents of bullying or threats of self-harm and firewall monitoring on school devices.

Earlier this year, the Board passed Policy JICFA targeting bullying and cyberbullying while discouraging inappropriate communication on social media. LCPS also collaborates with School Based Health Centers and contracts with mental health services since 2020 to enhance support beyond school counseling.

LCPS Board of Education President Teresa Tenorio emphasized that their action is not about legal outcomes or compensation but aims at holding social media companies responsible for their influence on youth: "It sends a message that social media companies are culpable for their negative impact on our youth and are directly responsible for effecting positive change."