Social Media Adolescent Addiction Lawsuits

Social media has transformed how we connect and communicate, but this shift has come at a cost, particularly for our children. Adolescents, with their developing impulse control and heightened sensitivity to peer pressure, are especially vulnerable to social media addiction.

In many cases, this is by design. Major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are engineered to be addictive, prioritizing engagement over the well-being of young users.

In response, parents nationwide are taking a stand by filing social media addiction lawsuits. If your child has been harmed by excessive social media use, you may be eligible to join them. Our leading personal injury law firm can help your family seek justice, accountability, and compensation from responsible companies. Contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Adolescent Social Media Addiction Claim Eligibility

Our skilled legal team can determine if you’re eligible to file a social media addiction lawsuit. You may have a viable case if your child uses social media for multiple hours a day and has been diagnosed with a physical or psychological condition associated with social media addiction, such as:

Depression – Social media can contribute to persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities.
Anxiety – Excessive time on social media can lead to extreme worrying and fear about future events.
Eating disorders or negative body image – Social media can fuel eating disorders in adolescents, including anorexia, bulimia, and “binge eating.”
Self-harm – Social media addiction has been linked to self-harm, including cutting and burning.
Suicidality – In severe cases, children and adolescents have tragically taken their lives after being bullied or exposed to harmful content on social media.
Sleep disorders – Excessive screen time can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or other sleep disorders.
Substance abuse – Adolescents may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the negative mental health effects of social media.

What Social Media Platforms Are Involved in the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

In the United States, 35 percent of teens say they use at least one of the top five social media platforms “almost constantly,” and 54 percent say it would be hard to give them up. Excessive social media can have disastrous consequences on overall psychological well-being, including increased risk of anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and sleep problems.

All social media platforms have the potential to be addictive. However, certain major platforms have faced the majority of the legal backlash for their role in fueling social media addiction:

Meta – The parent company of Instagram and Facebook, Meta has faced lawsuits for intentionally designing its platforms to be addictive to young users. One feature under scrutiny is the infinite scroll, which encourages users to keep scrolling and consuming content without encountering a natural stopping point.
Snapchat – Snapchat is a popular instant messaging platform that allows users to share photos and videos that disappear after the recipient views them. “Streaks,” a feature that rewards users for using the app consecutively, has emerged as a key talking point in addiction lawsuits against Snapchat.
Discord – Discord is a messaging platform popular among young gamers. It offers text, voice, and video call features both privately and in virtual communities. Lawsuits also allege that Discord facilitates child sexual exploitation.
TikTok – TikTok’s extremely addictive algorithm constantly suggests new content to users based on their scrolling habits. As a result, TikTok has faced legal action for influencing young users with content that encourages dangerous behavior. Federal legislation has also sought to ban the platform nationwide.

Milestones in Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

In October 2022, a group of lawsuits alleging that social media companies intentionally designed their platforms to addict children were consolidated for federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). Among other things, the lawsuit (MDL No. 3047) claims that the companies failed to verify users’ ages despite their policies banning users under the age of 13. Additionally, it accuses social media companies of knowing about the risks of using their platforms while failing to warn users.

Similar allegations were made a year later in a lawsuit brought by 41 states against Meta. Over 140 school districts have also taken legal action.

MDL No. 3047 is ongoing. While no settlements have been reached yet, it is possible that families could receive compensation ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the specifics of their cases. In more severe cases, such as those involving suicide linked to social media use, settlement amounts could potentially reach $1.5 million or more.

It is important to remember that these figures are estimates, not guaranteed outcomes. Actual compensation for affected families will depend on the specific circumstances of each case.

Social Media Addiction Lawsuit FAQs

Parents and other impacted family members normally have many questions about adolescent social media addiction lawsuits. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive from our clients:

1. What Compensation Is Available for Adolescent Social Media Addiction?

Compensation may be available for economic and non-economic damages suffered as a result of your child’s social media addiction. Examples include medical expenses, mental health treatment costs, lost income, decreased earning capacity, and psychological harm.

2. How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

Our national network of lawyers handles social media addiction cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t charge upfront fees for our services. Instead, we will only receive payment if we successfully recover compensation for you. Our fees will be calculated as a pre-negotiated percentage of your award. We also offer free, no-obligation consultations.

3. What Evidence Is Needed To Participate in a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

You will need to provide evidence that your child’s social media use harmed them. Important evidence can include medical records, psychological evaluations, and documentation of the time your child spent on social media.

4. Can I File a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit If My Child Committed Suicide?

Absolutely. You may be eligible to file a social media addiction lawsuit if your child’s suicide was caused by social media. Sadly, these tragic occurrences are not isolated. For example, an 11-year-old girl died by suicide due to online sexual exploitation stemming from social media.

The National Injury Law Firm™ Can Help if Your Child Was Harmed Due to Social Media Addiction

Social media companies have gotten away with harming our children for far too long. The National Injury Law Firm™ is dedicated to holding them accountable. If your child is suffering from poor mental health due to social media addiction, contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We will ensure you know your full legal rights and options at no cost to you.

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