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Board of Education joined national lawsuit in 2024; litigation addresses social media’s impact on student mental health
Las Cruces Public Schools will host a town hall-style meeting to inform parents and community members about the growing dangers of social media, and how those harms are affecting students. The event will also explain the district’s decision to join a national lawsuit against several major social media companies. Approved by the LCPS Board of Education in 2024, the lawsuit seeks to hold these platforms accountable for contributing to a mental health crisis among youth.
The town hall meeting will take place on Thursday, Aug. 14 in the boardroom at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex, 505 S. Main Street in Las Cruces. For those who cannot attend, the meeting will also be livestreamed.
LCPS and other districts have reported sharp increases in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among students, with social media frequently cited as a contributing factor. School counselors are managing mental health referrals, and teachers are spending more instructional time managing the fallout from social media-fueled conflict and mental harms.
Social media has also become a major distraction to learning. Students are frequently unable to focus or fully engage in schoolwork due to compulsive scrolling and the addictive nature of these platforms, which are engineered to keep them hooked. The constant digital stimulation is disrupting sleep, interfering with social development, and undermining academic performance. This year, LCPS has redefined acceptable use of cell phones across all grades to limit distractions and social media use while in school.
In addition, the former U.S. Surgeon General has called for health warnings on social media platforms, citing growing evidence that they are linked to significant mental health harm in young people. In schools, the anonymous nature of social media has intensified bullying, making it more extreme and repetitive than traditional, face-to-face interactions. Social media use is also directly correlated with increased anxiety and depression.
In September, the Board of Education retained Singleton Schreiber, LLP and Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP to represent the district in litigation against major social media companies including Meta, Google, ByteDance and Snap Inc. The lawsuit, which includes more than 500 school districts nationwide, was filed in response to a growing mental health crisis among students. The suit also alleges that these companies intentionally design their platforms to be addictive for adolescents, further exacerbating mental health concerns. The first of the school district cases in this national lawsuit is expected to go to trial in Spring 2026.
“This town hall is our opportunity to come together as a community, protect the well- being of our students, and keep our families informed,” said LCPS Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz. “This lawsuit is about standing up for our children.”
“Our litigation approach is about education, empowerment, and accountability,” said Brian Colón, Managing Partner at Singleton Schreiber, New Mexico. “Parents deserve to understand how social media is impacting their children’s mental health and what steps can be taken to address it. We’re proud to stand with LCPS and its leadership to provide clear information, legal insight, and a path forward for this community.”
Attorneys with Singleton Schreiber LLP will facilitate the town hall, explain the next steps in the lawsuit, and answer questions from participants.
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WHO: Las Cruces Public Schools, represented by attorneys and experts from Singleton Schreiber LLP
WHAT: Town hall meeting to inform parents and community members about the district’s role in a national lawsuit against major social media companies and social media’s impact on student mental health
WHEN: Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Boardroom of the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex, 505 S. Main St., Las Cruces, NM or virtually using this link.
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