What the $18B Meta lawsuit could mean for TDSB families

What the $18B Meta lawsuit could mean for TDSB families

Toronto parents, lawyers hope U.S. case will support the TDSB’s own lawsuit against the tech giant

Meta's recent agreement to make changes to Instagram and Facebook for young users marks one of the highest profile cases concerning the impact of social media use for teens — and some Torontonians are hopeful the settlement will bring future policy shifts at home.

Last week, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion in a federal trial alleging its platforms were unsafe for children. Under the U.S. deal, Meta will restrict teen usage to two hours a day, block access from midnight to 6 a.m., and mute notifications during school hours.

The tech giant did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.

Sonia Nijjar, a lawyer representing the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in their own lawsuit against Meta, called the results "encouraging."

"Meta has finally agreed to make certain changes to their products to make them safer for kids, and at the end of the day, that's what all of this litigation is about," Nijjar said.

While these safeguards currently apply only in the U.S., Nijjar hopes to see them brought to Canada.

"I think Canadian society has really woken up about this issue," she said. "Our kids should have the same safety guardrails."

Meta agrees to platforms changes, pay up to $18B US to settle lawsuit

Some parents and teachers unhappy with current policies

The TDSB and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) abide by Ontario's policy banning phone use for Grades 1–6 and restricting phones to non-instructional time for Grades 7–12.

But some parents and teachers feel it's not enough.

Angie Clark, executive director of Phone-Free Schools Movement Canada, says limiting phone use only during instructional time is difficult to enforce.

"When you put [phones] away for the day, there's a clear boundary," Clark said. She advocates for a "bell-to-bell" phone storage rule, supported by clear enforcement protocols.

Ontario tightening rules around cellphones, banning vaping in schools

Elementary school parents have their own concerns.

Anna Karakatsanis has a son going into fourth grade in a TDSB school, and she says he frequently reports that classmates have phones out during the school day.

Karakatsanis says she hopes this lawsuit in the US will make more parents aware of the "issues that surround phone and social media use," and is encouraging others to create stricter limits.

What’s next for the school boards lawsuits?

In 2024, 14 Ontario school boards, including the TDSB, launched lawsuits against Meta, TikTok and Snapchat. The boards allege the platforms were negligently designed for compulsive use, disrupting the education system.

Last year, the social media giants put forward a motion to dismiss the case, but Ontario Superior Court Justice Janice Leiper struck it down.

What could the Meta settlement in California mean for Canada?

In the dismissal, Leiper wrote, "The statistics, if true, and the methods and outcomes of social media on the learning environment reveal broad effects that impact not only the immediate access to the right to an education, but to the futures of many young people."

Meta, Snapchat and TikTok have all previously said that they're committed to their young users' well-being.

"We will persist," Nijjar said. "We have our own claim to prove. We feel very strongly, and continue to feel probably even stronger about it as time passes."

School boards will continue with current standard, for now

TDSB communications officer Ryan Bird says that beyond the provincial guidelines, individual schools are allowed to do "what works best for them."

The TCDSB follows the same provincial policy. Media relations supervisor Elric Pereira shared a statement that said the board "is not aware of any reported issues/conflicts at schools since the implementation of the device policy back in 2024."

In April, Ontario education minister Paul Calandra said the ministry was considering both a cellphone and social media ban in schools. The federal government also put forward legislation to limit social media use for kids under 16 earlier this year.

MediaSmarts, a Canadian digital media literacy organization, has worked with teachers and students on understanding the impact of phones in the classroom and at home.

Director of education Matthew Johnson said an outright ban on phones might not be the one-size-fits-all solution. He argues tech companies are responsible for altering the design of their platforms.

"It's essential that we create a level playing field where the design of the apps is not ... leading to habitual use," he said, referencing some of the safeguards established in the U.S. case, like limiting notifications during the school day.

"It’s important that the default settings of apps that are used by young people are going to encourage safe and conscious, intentional use."

Johnson says many students feel like they "can’t opt out" of social media use because it has become another layer of social connection both during and after school hours.

"This is going to require a cultural change," Johnson said.

Mercedes Gaztambide is a TV and radio broadcast journalist with CBC News Toronto, reporting on crime, social issues, entertainment, human interest stories, and breaking news. She graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University's Journalism program in 2022, and was a host on CBC's 'Street Cents' for several years, before diving back into the world of news. Mercedes can be reached by email at: mercedes.gaztambide@cbc.ca.