On July 29, 2024, our firm filed an application for authorization to institute a class action against the social media giants.
This request seeks damages for all individuals who had an account on the defendants’ platforms, including: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, X or Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat and Reddit.
Our client’s story
Our client has been active on social networks since 2015.
At the time, he was active on various social networking platforms for three to four hours a day, and began to experience several negative effects as a result of his use of social networks, including an impact on his self-esteem and body image, his values and his attention and productivity.
As a result, our client deleted his accounts on a number of platforms. However, as of today, our client is still active on X (formerly known as “Twitter”) and Reddit, for an average of more than two hours a day.
His use of social networks continues to have a negative impact on his concentration, attention span, anxiety, productivity and sleep.
Breaches
A number of experts agree that the use of social networks, because of the various stimuli including likes, comments and other notifications, and because of the powerful algorithms developed by the defendants in particular, causes an increased secretion of dopamine, which encourages users to use these platforms frequently. Several studies illustrate that a significant proportion of the population has become addicted to the defendants’ platforms.
Various studies have also established a link between the use of social networks and depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self-esteem, loneliness, academic performance and family life.
The defendants’ platforms, which derive their revenue from advertising, were designed to be addictive. It also appears that the defendants were and are aware of the harmful effects of their platforms on the mental health and well-being of their users. However, the defendants did not attempt to remove these effects from their platforms, nor did they adequately inform their users of the harmful effects associated with the use of social networks. On the contrary, the defendants paint a positive image of their platforms.
In this context, the defendants breached their duty of care. The defendants also breached their obligations under the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Civil Code of Québec and the Consumer Protection Act.
The proposed class action
Our firm’s proposed class action alleges that the defendants designed, marketed and promoted platforms that are inherently harmful to the public. The action also alleges that users of social networks do not have the information they need to make an informed choice when contracting with the defendants, having been unaware of the recognized health risks of these platforms.
We believe that the Defendants’ prohibited acts, omissions and practices have affected millions of people in Canada. Moreover, our class action defends the interests of all individuals who have become addicted to social networks or whose use of the targeted platforms has had a negative impact on their mental health or on one of the six (6) targeted spheres of activity.
On behalf of our client and all injured members, we are claiming compensatory damages as well as punitive damages to sanction the defendants’ malicious, lax and reckless behaviour.
The proposed class
Main class
All natural persons residing in Canada who had an account on one of the defendants’ social networking platforms.
Subclass
All natural persons and/or their legal representatives and/or guardians, domiciled or having been domiciled in Canada who have developed an addiction to the applications ‘Facebook’, ‘Facebook Messenger’, ‘Instagram’, ‘Tiktok’, ‘X’ or ‘Twitter’, ‘YouTube’, ‘SnapChat’ and ‘Reddit’, or whose use of these platforms has had harmful repercussions on their mental health or on one or other of the following spheres of activity:
A. Personal activities
B. Family activities
C. Social activities
D. Educational activities
E. Professional activities
F. Other important areas of operation
As well as the successors and/or heirs of deceased persons who would otherwise have been part of the Class.
Applications lodged with the Court
Application for authorization to bring a class action (French)
Current status of the file
Pending authorization by a judge of the Superior Court.
How to be part of the class action?
If you meet the criteria of the groups listed above, you are automatically part of the collective action. We invite you to fill out the following form to stay in touch with us.
Please note that you can also fill in this form for someone close to you (for example, your child).
Contact form
Please use the form below to attach and follow the latest news of this class action.
Notice : Submitting your information through the registration form above does not create a lawyer-client relationship and does not commit you to paying attorneys’ fees.