Two tribal nations are accusing social media companies of contributing to the disproportionately high rates of suicide among Native American young people
Many US teenagers use social media, and roughly one in six describe their use as “almost constant”, according to the Pew Research Centre. Their lawsuit describes “a sophisticated and intentional effort that has caused a continuing, substantial, and long-term burden to the tribe and its members,” leaving scarce resources for education, cultural preservation and other social programmes.
School boards in Ontario, Canada, claim teachers are struggling because platforms designed for compulsive use “have rewired the way children think, behave, and learn”. Snap Inc said it provides an alternative to a feed of online content. “We will always have more work to do, and will continue to work to make Snapchat a platform that helps close friends feel connected, happy and prepared as they face the many challenges of adolescence,” the company’s statement said.
About 87% of people who identify as Native American do not live on an Indian reservation, according to the 2020 US Census, and social media can help them connect with tradition, culture and other tribal communities.