Knoch School Board votes to join social media lawsuit
JEFFERSON TWP — At its monthly meeting Wednesday night, May 10, the Knoch School Board unanimously voted to join an expanding lawsuit against the world’s biggest social media companies, including the owners of Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
Knoch will join other school districts in Western Pennsylvania, including Seneca Valley, Mars Area and Moniteau, in a sprawling lawsuit that pins the blame on the social media giants for creating a mental health crisis among the nation’s youth.
“There is no cost to the district,” said solicitor Thomas Breth, who is also a lawyer with the firm Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham. “We’re not going to incur any legal fees or court costs. It’s really joining existing social media litigation.”
The school district recently participated in a class-action lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul. This past December, Juul paid out $38.8 million dollars to settle a lawsuit with the state of Pennsylvania, with Knoch receiving $37,000 from that settlement.
“Social media has done wonderful things to get messages out, but … it’s been a challenge with students putting inappropriate things on there that really impact the day-to-day work here at the school,” said David Foley, district superintendent.
