When British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd sat down at her computer and detailed on social media the relentless bullying and extortion she faced, it sent shockwaves to parents everywhere entire. Twelve years later, his family joins others in a lawsuit alleging that these dangers persist for children online.

Just weeks after posting the viral video, 15-year-old Todd committed suicide in October 2012.

“Why isn’t life safer for children? » asked his mother, Carol Todd, in an interview from Port Coquitlam. “Why are more children being harmed?”

2:14
Dutch court sentences Aydin Coban to six years in prison

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court earlier this month on behalf of 11 families – including two Canadians – who claim their children have suffered physical and mental harm because of social media platforms. It alleges that some of the world’s largest technology companies knowingly designed and marketed defective products to children in order to increase their engagement.

Some children have committed suicide after being the target of sextortion by strangers, where a person threatens to divulge sexually compromising information or images. Others developed eating disorders, depression and required hospitalization.

The lawsuit names tech behemoths Meta – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram – as well as Snapchat, the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, Discord and Google, owner of YouTube.

“What happened to these children was neither an accident nor a coincidence. This was the predictable result of the deliberate design decisions they make to maximize engagement rather than safety,” said Matthew Bergman, founding attorney at the Social Media Victims Law Center, which is handling the case.

“They make money by selling advertising to children and selling their data.”

2:16
American convicted of exploiting BCchildren reminds of online risks

Google said the allegations were not true. Spokesman José Castañeda said Google developed services and policies in collaboration with experts to provide age-appropriate experiences and parental controls.

The other companies did not comment. Their websites usually state that they have age restrictions and prohibit harmful content. TikTok’s website says it moderates content “that involves goods or activities that may be risky, addictive, dangerous, fraudulent, or that require a higher degree of care.”

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A growing number of lawsuits have been filed against tech giants, alleging that children are being harmed due to their exposure to social media.

The latest lawsuit refers to internal documents and research, notably from the Facebook Papers, which were published by a whistleblower. He cited Meta documents saying: “Young people are best. You want to bring people to your service young and precocious.

Todd started using Facebook in 2008. The platform was new and his mother, like most people in the world, thought it was designed to be fun and safe. Todd quickly found himself trapped in years of extortion.

3:29
Amanda Todd’s online tormentor sentenced to 13 years in prison

Aydin Coban, who is Dutch, began blackmailing Todd with a photo taken while she pulled up her shirt during a conversation. During his Canadian trial, Coban used 22 online aliases to harass Todd for two years, starting when he was 12 years old.

Coban was convicted of harassment and extortion in Canada. He was also convicted in the Netherlands on similar charges relating to the online extortion of 33 girls and gay men.

The lawsuit alleges that Meta could have taken several steps to make its product safer for minors and prevent strangers from reaching out to children.

The lawsuit includes the family of another Canadian teenager who died more than a decade after Todd’s case made headlines across the country.

Harry Burke sought help from his father after the 17-year-old from Prince Edward Island sent an explicit photo on Snapchat and was sextorted for money.

The lawsuit said his parents planned to go to the RCMP in the morning, but that night Burke took his own life.

4:10 p.m.
Amanda Todd’s mother speaks out after her daughter’s harasser is convicted

The lawsuit also represents American parents who say their children have become depressed and suicidal because of social media platforms.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said earlier this year that the youth mental health crisis is an emergency “and social media has become a significant contributor,” calling for a tobacco-like warning label on platforms .

Bergman said the lawsuit argues that “these are dangerous products … and are likely to cause harm to children.” They are designed to drive increased engagement from young people by showing more extreme material while encouraging them to interact more with the platform, he said, leading to addiction and psychological harm.

Concerns about social media security have sparked a backlash from lawmakers on both sides of the border.

3:20 p.m.
British Columbia judge hands down harsh sentence to Amanda Todd’s executioner, Aydin Coban

Canada’s Liberal government is trying to pass a bill on online harm. It has faced criticism, including from opposition conservatives, who say it would create a new bureaucracy.

The United States is also moving forward with its own Child Online Safety Act to create a “duty of care,” a legal term that requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. This bill passed the Senate, but what will happen in the House is less certain.

Carol Todd encouraged parents to connect to resources like the Canadian Center for Child Protection and make sure their children know they can speak with an adult if something happens.

She said it was important to join other families in the lawsuit to make social media safer for children.

“I can’t bring my child back…this is to keep the other children safe.”

— With files from The Associated Press

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