Social Media Addiction
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have been shown to contribute to a range of serious mental health effects when used too much. Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, self-harm, suicidal ideation and suicide are some of the mental health effects that can follow excessive social media use. Children and adolescents are most affected by the harms of social media addiction, leading many young adults and families to file social media addiction lawsuits.
Social Media Addiction Litigation
In March 2026, a landmark trial took place resulting in a $3 million jury verdict for compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages against Meta and YouTube for the addictive aspects of their platforms that caused harm to the plaintiff in the case.
In August 2026, a team of attorneys general representing states reached a settlement with Meta for more than $17 billion and a number of significant safety measures to be implemented on Meta’s platforms. The safety measures will require Meta to include daily time limits with mandatory pauses, restrictions of use during school hours and after midnight, age verification protocols, stronger parental controls, and limits on features such as beauty filters.
Effects of Social Media Addiction
Social media addiction can severely impact every aspect of a victim’s life. Younger victims may have to deal with the harmful effects for the rest of their lives. Body image issues can lead to body dysmorphia and eating disorders that can cause significant physical damage. Depression and anxiety can upend a young person’s life during critical periods of development, causing them to withdraw from friends and family and engage in dangerous behavior.
Potential signs and symptoms of social media addiction can include:
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Staying up late at night scrolling social media
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Struggling at work or school
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Changes in mood, behavior and overall health
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Changes in personal relationships
Your Potential Social Media Addiction Claim
You may have the right to file a lawsuit for the injuries suffered from social media addiction if:
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You or your children started using one or more social media apps between the ages of 5 and 17
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You or your children have used these apps for 3 or more hours a day
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You or your children have suffered one or more of the following qualifying injuries
QUALIFYING INJURIES:
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Body Dysmorphia
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Eating Disorders
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Thoughts of Suicide
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Physical Self-Harm
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Suicide
Use of Algorithms
Social media platforms make money through advertising and the more time users spend on their apps, the more money the companies make. This means social media companies are highly incentivized to lure users to their platforms and keep them scrolling once they are there. The companies use algorithms to determine what content gets shown to users. The algorithms are touted as providing a personalized experience based on a user’s interests. However, social media companies can use algorithms to present content that triggers an emotional response and makes users addicted to the platforms. Younger users can be even more susceptible to the addictive effects of social media use.
The average teenager spends more than three hours on social media each day and teens who spend that long online daily are at increased risk of suffering mental health problems.
CONTACT LEWIS SAUL & ASSOCIATES, P.C TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS
Social media companies have designed their platforms to be addictive, which comes with the risk of serious physical and mental health problems. If you or a loved one is struggling with social media addiction or has suffered the significant adverse effects it can cause, Lewis Saul & Associates will help you hold the social media companies accountable.