Columbus City Schools has joined federal social media addiction litigation involving major technology platforms, alleging problematic use among students has contributed to counseling, mental-health, behavioral and staff-training costs across the Ohio district.
Columbus City Schools has joined federal litigation against major social media companies, alleging that platform features encouraging excessive use among young people have harmed students and increased costs for counseling, mental-health services and other district programs.
Board approves participation in federal litigation
The Columbus City Schools Board of Education voted on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to authorize the district’s participation in litigation involving social media platforms. The case is connected to MDL No. 3047, a federal multidistrict proceeding in the Northern District of California concerning allegations that social media platforms were designed to maximize screen time and encourage addictive behavior among adolescents.
The litigation has included claims involving platforms operated by companies behind Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other major social media services.
District cites student mental-health costs
Columbus City Schools says excessive and problematic social media use among students has required additional district resources, including counseling, mental-health services, behavioral interventions, staff training and other support programs. Axios Columbus reported that the district is seeking both potential financial recovery and changes intended to improve youth safety.
Grossman & Kelly LLP is representing the district under a contingency-fee arrangement, meaning compensation would be tied to any recovery obtained through the litigation.
Youth safety changes also sought
The district says it wants stronger protections for young users and changes to platform features it alleges can encourage compulsive use.
The legal action comes amid broader scrutiny of social media’s impact on minors. A U.S. Surgeon General advisory says children and adolescents spending more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental-health problems, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, while also noting that social media can provide benefits.
Separate Meta settlement adds legal context
In a separate case, Meta reached a multistate settlement in August 2026 requiring payments of up to approximately $17.1 billion and new child-safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. The agreement addressed claims brought by states and does not resolve separate lawsuits filed by school districts.
Columbus City Schools’ participation adds Ohio’s largest school district to the growing number of public entities seeking to recover costs they attribute to harmful social media use while pressing platforms for stronger protections for young users.
