Social Media Addiction Lawsuit: A Guide (2026)

Recent Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Updates

In 2025, a federal court dismissed some claims regarding social media addiction because of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This section shields interactive computer services from liability for content that third parties post. The court did, however, allow some negligence claims to proceed.

The federal court stated that these social media platforms may have configured their sites with the intent of causing addictive behaviors, along with other mental health concerns.

On June 13, a judge chose a few cases to serve as the bellwether trials for the social media addiction multi-district litigation. The school districts involved in these trials are in Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, South Carolina and Arizona. The first trial is supposed to start in 2026.

Also in 2025, a judge ruled that 10 of the plaintiffs’ experts may testify. These include experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, media psychology and pediatrics. The current case count for JCCP 5255 is more than 2,243.

How Social Media Affects Teens

Social media can have significant effects on the mental health of teens. It can lead to the development of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Teens can also struggle with self-esteem and body image issues as a result of social media use because they’re bombarded with curated and edited pictures.

Additionally, the decreased in-person interactions that result from obsessive social media use can make teens less able to manage interpersonal relationships while at the same time making it more difficult for them to build essential social skills. This may only make mental health problems worse because it boosts feelings of isolation.

How Social Media Platforms Target Teens

Despite how detrimental compulsive social media usage can be for teens, these platforms continue to seek them out. They use behavioral targeting with algorithms that monitor everything from comments to videos watched to present similar content to keep teens on the platform.

Social media sites also highlight viral trends and challenges, which often capture the attention of teens. These platforms celebrate influencers, especially young ones, making their success something teens need to obtain.

Who Can File a Lawsuit?

When looking for how to sue someone for social media harm, it’s first essential to know whether you’re eligible to do so. If you have suffered physical or psychological harm because of social media use or developed an addiction, it may be possible to file a lawsuit with help from a personal injury lawyer.

The majority of the lawsuits focus on the development of social media addiction in people under 21. If you or your child has demonstrable psychological injuries from social media use, such as a diagnosed mental health condition that began because of the addiction, you may be eligible.

Social Media Lawsuits Against Major Platforms

The most popular social media platforms are facing lawsuits from people who claim the companies have purposely built addictive features and focused on drawing in children and teenagers. Because these demographics still have developing brains, the harm that social media causes can be much greater.

Plaintiffs in these cases are stating that social media companies had a responsibility to warn of the potential for addiction. As with any other type of product liability lawsuit, the manufacturer could be liable if it doesn’t warn of potential risks of using the product — in this case, social media platforms.

Social Media Companies Named in Lawsuits

There are a few social media platforms that are being sued, beginning with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Plaintiffs claim that Meta allows the sharing of harmful content while also luring young users to the platforms and enticing them to stay for hours.

TikTok is another platform facing lawsuits. The basic setup of this social media option is addictive because it is video-based. It’s also known as a platform that allows the spread of harmful conduct, like the “blackout challenge,” which encouraged children and teens to strangle themselves until they passed out.

Another targeted platform is Snapchat. This app features disappearing messages, which could make it easier for sexual predators to groom children and teens.

How to File a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

If you’re eligible to file a claim, the first thing you need to do is hire an attorney with experience in these types of cases. These are complex lawsuits, and you will need assistance to gather appropriate evidence. The evidence must show a clear link between addictive social media use and the mental or physical harm you’ve sustained.

Your lawyer can take care of the legal process of filing the lawsuit and beginning negotiations to try to achieve a settlement. That’s not always possible, however, which means your case can end up in court. It’s vital not to attempt litigation without an attorney.

Evidence Needed for Your Claim

To have the best possible chance to succeed in your claim, it’s essential to gather a significant amount of evidence. You will need to demonstrate that social media use began the addictive behaviors, along with any other mental health concerns you or your loved one has experienced due to social media use. You can do this with:

• Social Media Account Data: Proving how much time you spent on the sites, how compulsive your use was and other similar behaviors can significantly help your case.
• Medical Records: You will need to show that you have a diagnosed condition, like social media addiction, depression or other mental health concerns as a result of social media use.
• Therapist or Counselor Notes: These notes can demonstrate changes in behavior as a result of social media use, along with any treatment strategies that apply.
• School Records: School records can show academic decline or other changes that signal a mental health crisis.
• Screenshots: Screenshots can show the exposure to harmful content.

Additionally, you will need expert testimony to support the claim.

Statute of Limitations

As with other types of lawsuits, there are statutes of limitations that apply. These are state-specific and can also depend on the ages of the plaintiffs. A product liability attorney can offer insight into how much time you have to file the lawsuit.

Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Settlements

These cases are relatively new, and lawsuits can take a while to come to a conclusion. As of now, there have not been any social media addiction lawsuit settlements, but there are numerous ongoing cases.

Find an Experienced Lawyer Through ConsumerShield

If you or a loved one has developed a social media addiction, you may be entitled to compensation. To begin the legal process of filing a lawsuit, however, you need to hire experienced representation.

At ConsumerShield, we can help connect you with an attorney in your area who offers the trusted legal support you’re seeking. Contact us to find out how we can equip you to fight for the justice you deserve today.