Social Media Mental Health Lawsuit
- Last Updated: September 15th, 2023
Key takeaways:
- The Social Media Mental Health Lawsuit sheds light on the significance of addressing mental health concerns arising from excessive social media use. It emphasizes the need for platforms to prioritize user well-being.
- The lawsuit represents a significant step towards empowering users and holding social media platforms accountable for their impact on mental health. It encourages users to speak up and advocate for positive change.
- The Social Media Mental Health Lawsuit prompts discussions about potential regulations and guidelines to ensure a safer digital environment. It calls for collaboration among stakeholders to create responsible and ethical social media practices.
Social Media Mental Health Lawsuit
Social media platforms have become increasingly damaging to the mental health of teenage users.
Social media harm lawsuit claims allege that social media companies are responsible for onsetting or heightening mental health problems, eating disorders, mood disorders, and other negative experiences of vulnerable users, teens, and children.
This rising concern has led to a number of proposed solutions, including more government regulation, better parental controls, and increased self-regulation by social media sites.
However, it is unclear whether any of these measures will be effective in addressing the root causes of the problem.
Social media harm lawsuits claim that social media companies are responsible for onsetting or heightening mental health problems, eating disorders, mood disorders, and other negative experiences of teens and children.
If you or a loved one have experienced mental health issues due to social media addiction or excessive use, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Contact TruLaw for a free consultation, or use the chatbot on this page for a free case evaluation to see if you qualify for potential legal action instantly.
If you are struggling with mental health issues due to social media use, it is important to seek help from a professional.
There is no shame in admitting that you need help and support to deal with the negative effects of social media.
Table of Contents
Lawsuit Updates
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September 2023 Updates:
September 1st, 2023:
The Board of Education of Charles County, Maryland has filed a lawsuit against social media companies, including Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok, alleging that their addictive products are harming youth mental health. The lawsuit claims that these platforms are designed to target and addict children, manipulate users to spend excessive time online, and do not provide sufficient safeguards to verify users’ ages.
The school system argues that these companies prioritize profits over safety and contribute to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among students.
Charles County joins a hundreds of additional school systems across the U.S. suing the social media giants for detrimental affects on students’ mental health.
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August 2023 Updates:
July 26th, 2023
Approximately 200 school districts across the country have filed a lawsuit against social media giants, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, claiming harm caused to students, particularly regarding cyberbullying and mental health issues linked to social media usage.
The case, consolidated in a U.S. District Court in California, questions the implications of Section 230, which protects social media companies from significant liability for user-generated content. The schools argue that Section 230 should not apply in this situation, citing addictive algorithms and product design affecting vulnerable students.
July 28th, 2023
The Las Virgenes and Conejo Valley Unified school districts are among the numerous districts joining a lawsuit against social media companies alleging their negative impact on students’ mental health and financial burden on schools.
The school districts’ trustees have voiced differing opinions on the litigation, with some expressing concern over social media’s influence on students and the need for accountability from the companies involved. The lawsuit addresses issues related to age verification, parental controls, targeted algorithms, constant notifications, and endless scrolling designed to addict students to social media platforms.
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July 2023 Updates:
The Penn Hills School District in Pennsylvania recently joined the growing number of educational institutions taking legal action against major social media companies.
By voting in favor, the board joined a civil lawsuit that claims social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, have played a role in exacerbating a youth mental health crisis. The board members highlighted their concerns regarding the detrimental impact of social media on school-age children, citing issues such as heightened bullying and conflicts, as well as the diminishing importance of real-life experiences.
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June 2023 Updates:
Montgomery County, Maryland, the state’s largest school district, has joined the ongoing federal lawsuit against social media giants such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook.
Following a series of disturbing incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic that seemed to be connected to viral videos on these platforms, the local school system has become increasingly concerned about the impact of social media on students.
With approximately 160,550 students across 210 schools, Montgomery County Public Schools believes that social media is fueling body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and even violence.
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May 2023 Updates:
Three districts in Oregon have now filed lawsuits against social media platforms under the belief that they are placing profits over the health of students.
Washougal and Salem-Keizer school districts have both filed lawsuits against Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Google, YouTube, and TikTok.
This comes after the Gervais school district filed a lawsuit back in March.
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April 2023 Updates:
An increasing number of public schools have filed lawsuits against various social media platforms after the initial lawsuits were placed earlier this year.
The school systems are seeking financial compensation along with the hope that courts declare social media companies’ practices as a public nuisance.
These cases are currently still in the early phases as more and more schools in various states continue to file lawsuits.
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March 2023 Updates:
Multiple public schools have filed lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and other social media platforms.
The first lawsuits were filed by Seattle Public Schools in January.
Since then, school districts in New Jersey and Florida have filed lawsuits.
In March, Bucks County, located in Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit alleging that social media companies are designing and marketing their platforms in way that encourages “youth addiction.”
While there has not been an update on these cases, social media companies have responded stating that there are parental control and kids’ safety features placed on their platforms for younger users.
Social Media Mental Health Lawsuit Overview
The social media addiction or social media mental health lawsuit alleges that young adults and teen users have been diagnosed with mental illnesses, eating disorders, body image issues, and other mental health issues due to excessive social media use.
Lawsuits also allege that social media companies, particularly Facebook and Instagram, knew that their products were dangerous for young users and did not do enough to mitigate the harmful content or algorithm that contributes to potential mental health issues.
The complex algorithms of social media platforms are constantly adapting and exposing young people to new and potentially harmful content.
Parents must be vigilant of their child’s social media habits and step in when they see these outlets doing more harm than good.
What is the Status of Social Media Mental Health Lawsuits?
Lawsuits alleging mental health conditions and other mental problems stemming from excessive social media use are currently being considered for consolidation into multidistrict litigation (MDL).
There are 75 lawsuits in the request for consolidation.
If consolidation does occur, the cases alleging mental health problems from social media use will be centralized in a single district court for consistency of decisions and to speed up the legal process.
Facebook and Instagram support consolidation of these lawsuits, but other social media companies are saying that these lawsuits primarily target Facebook and Instagram and they don’t fit the bill.
Research and Statistics on Social Media Companies and Mental Health
Research studies, news articles, and other forms of commentary have come out in the past couple of years exposing the facts that excessive social media use and social media addiction contribute to mental health issues, particularly in teen users.
A University of Pennsylvania study titled “No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression” found that in young users, mental health problems decreased dramatically when they limited time spent on their social media platform of choice.
Other studies have come to the same conclusion, and Facebook’s internal research has also found that a troubling portion of their younger users reported mental health issues associated with what they see on Instagram.
Screen time and time spent on social media platforms have correlated directly with decreased self-esteem, increased depression and anxiety, and other serious mental health problems including suicidal ideation, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.
The mounting evidence in scientific studies and personal testimony from teen users suggest that harm caused by excessive social media usage is more common than we think.
The Facebook Papers: Instagram Has Harmful Effects on the Mental Health of Teenage Girls and Young Women
The Wall Street Journal published a number of leaked internal research documents from Facebook that shows that the company knew that its social media products were harmful to the mental health of young people.
The internal presentations focused on the harmful effects of Instagram and included survey results of teenage girls on how the platform made them feel.
Some of the most important statistics in the leaked presentations include:
- 66% of teen girls who use Instagram experience negative social comparison
- 52% of teen girls who experienced negative social comparison on Instagram said it was caused by images related to beauty and body image
- 32% of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse
- The boundary between social media and in-person relationships is often blurred, which can negatively impact self-esteem and mental health in general.
- Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms
- Teenage users who struggle with mental health say that Instagram makes it worse and the positive aspects do not outweigh its negative impacts on self-esteem and mental health
Social Media Use Statistics Among Teens and Young People
Social media accounts are a commonality nowadays among teens and young people.
In surveys, almost 97% of teens had at least one social media account, and at least 86% of young people have had at least one negative experience on social media.
According to Pew Research Center, teen social media users engaged with YouTube most regularly, followed by TikTok and Instagram.
Facebook has taken a drastic fall in use statistics among teens, but since it is the parent company of Instagram, its influence in the industry is still as large as ever.
Do You Qualify for a Social Media Addiction or Mental Health Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one are suffering from mental health issues, an eating disorder, body image issues, suicidal ideation, or other mental problems relating to excessive social media use or social media addiction, you may qualify to file a social media harm lawsuit.
Seeking Assistance: Filing a Lawsuit for Social Media Addiction
Filing a lawsuit for social media addiction can be a complex and challenging process. If you believe that your excessive use of social media platforms has caused significant harm to your mental health or overall well-being, you may be considering taking legal action. Here are some important steps to consider when seeking assistance for filing a social mental health lawsuit:
Consult with a legal professional: It is crucial to seek advice from a lawyer who specializes in this area of law. Here at Trulaw, we can provide guidance on whether you have a valid case and help you navigate the legal process.
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Gather evidence: To support your lawsuit, you will need to gather evidence that demonstrates the negative impact of social media addiction on your life. This may include screenshots of excessive usage, records of missed opportunities or relationships, and any medical or psychological evaluations that show the extent of the harm caused.
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Identify the responsible parties: Determine who you believe is responsible for your addiction. This could include the social media platforms themselves, as well as any individuals or organizations that may have contributed to your addiction.
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Determine damages: Assess the damages you have suffered as a result of your social media addiction. This may include financial losses, emotional distress, or the deterioration of personal relationships. Quantifying these damages will be important when seeking compensation.
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File a complaint: Once you have gathered all the necessary information and consulted with a legal professional, you can proceed with filing a complaint in the appropriate court. Your lawyer will guide you through the specific requirements and deadlines for this process.
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Pursue settlement or litigation: Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may have the option to pursue a settlement or proceed with litigation. Your lawyer will advise you on the best course of action based on the strength of your case and the potential outcomes.
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Seek support: Throughout the legal process, it is important to seek support from friends, family, or support groups who can provide emotional and practical assistance. Dealing with a lawsuit can be stressful.
TruLaw: Investigating the Social Media Addiction and Social Media Mental Health Lawsuits
Our network of law firms and experienced attorneys are currently investigating the claims against social media companies and strategizing how to move forward with legal action.
We understand that the subject matter in social media harm lawsuits is sensitive, and we’ll work our hardest to ensure that your voice is heard.
Contact us for a free case evaluation or use the chatbot on this page to see if you qualify for a claim instantly.
If you or a loved one is going through mental trauma, consider seeking help from a professional as soon as possible.
There is no shame in reaching out for help if you’re dealing with mental illness, suicidal ideation, or any other mental issue.
There is help available no matter the time of day:
Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 if you’re experiencing thoughts about self-harm or suicide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Social Media Companies Have Been Named in Lawsuits?
The social media platforms named in social media addiction and social media mental health lawsuits have been Facebook (Meta), Instagram, TikTok (ByteDance), YouTube, and other social media companies.
The majority of lawsuits filed name one social media company, Facebook (Meta Platforms) as the primary defendant.
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What injuries or diagnoses are common in social media mental health cases?
Common diagnoses and injuries in these lawsuits alleging harm from social media companies include:
- Depression or depressive symptoms
- Anxiety
- Eating Disorders
- Body Dysmorphia
- ADHD
- Self-harm or suicidal ideation
- Any other diagnosed mental illnesses
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How much are these lawsuits worth?
The typical settlement amounts for social media mental health lawsuits are unknown as of now.
When these lawsuits are further along in court, we’ll have a better idea of the average settlement amount for each case, depending on the diagnosis and allegations.
Experienced Attorney & Legal SaaS CEO
With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessie is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three. She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.
In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.
In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share reliable legal information with her readers!
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