Wisconsin Districts Join, Weigh Social Media Mental-Health Suit

The Waunakee School District has joined a nationwide class-action lawsuit alleging that social media companies’ platforms contribute to youth mental health problems and increase schools’ costs for student support. More than 1,200 school districts are participating in the litigation, which seeks to recover expenses for services such as counseling and mental health interventions. La Crosse’s school board postponed a decision on whether to join, with district leaders saying social media has contributed to student needs and related staffing and program costs. The cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, with attorneys receiving a share of any recovery; Waunakee’s district said it would provide no personally identifiable student information.