Schools Crack Down on Big Tech: Public Nuisance Theory Explained

School districts seeking to hold social media platforms accountable for addicting their students and causing harm to property and education are employing a novel twist on the same public nuisance doctrine that was used in legal battles against opioid makers and vape pen sellers.

Districts in California, Florida, Rhode Island, and Washington allege that social media companies—including Meta Platforms Inc. and TikTok Inc.—have created a public nuisance by fueling a student mental health and addiction crisis, which uniquely harms districts by forcing them to pick up the tab for counseling resources and employee training. It’s the same style of ...