– Updated on February 27, 2025
The defendants in the social media addiction lawsuit include several multi-billion- and multi-trillion-dollar tech giants who developed some of the world’s most popular social media and internet platforms.
The basis of the social media addiction lawsuit is allegations that these companies knowingly created an addictive product that adversely affects children and young people. With excessive use, some adolescents and teens develop depression, suicidal thoughts, and other serious mental health concerns.
Several Major Technology Companies Face Scrutiny in the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
The defendants in the social media addiction lawsuit include several major tech companies and the social media platforms they created. This includes:
- Meta Platforms, Inc.: This company owns Facebook and Instagram, two of the most popular social media platforms.
- Snap Inc.: Snap Inc. owns Snapchat, a platform that allows users to post and exchange images and messages.
- ByteDance: This tech company owns TikTok, the popular video-sharing app.
- Alphabet Inc.: Google’s parent company also owns YouTube.
Why Are the Plaintiffs Seeking Compensation From the Defendants?
According to the documents filed in these lawsuits, the victims suffered a range of mental health concerns and believe their excessive use of social media led to depression, fear of missing out, and more serious issues such as:
If you or a loved one experienced any of these mental health concerns and used social media platforms several hours a day as a child or teen, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit and join the multidistrict litigation already ongoing in this case.
What Damages Can Victims Seek in a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?
The damages potentially recoverable in a social media addiction lawsuit could include a wide range of expenses and losses. A settlement or verdict could consist of:
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages cover the victim’s current and future expenses and losses related to their social media addiction and resulting health concerns. Some of the most common types of compensatory damages include:
- Medical expenses for physical and mental care needs
- Lost income if you missed work because of your mental health concern
- Educational losses experienced by young victims who missed school because of their condition or treatment
- Related expenses could include travel expenses, legal fees, and even parking at doctor’s appointments
- Diminished enjoyment in life
- Emotional and physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, some individuals die from suicide or severe eating disorders before they have an opportunity to hold these companies accountable. If you lost a loved one and believe excessive social media use played a role, discuss your case with a law firm familiar with this lawsuit. They will assess your legal rights and discuss your options for getting justice.
Injunctive Relief
Injunctive relief could be part of any settlement negotiations or verdict in the social media addiction lawsuit. Many of the plaintiffs in this case likely feel strongly that the defendants need to make changes to their platforms and increase the severity of the warnings about children and teens using them.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are sometimes awarded to plaintiffs in multidistrict litigation. With these damages, the court aims to punish the liable party and deter others from engaging in similar activities.
At this point, it is impossible to know if punitive damages might be included in a verdict in the social media harm lawsuits. If there is evidence that clearly shows that developers were aware of the addictive nature of their platforms and, indeed, programmed them that way, punitive damages might be possible.
How Many People Are Filing Social Media Addiction Lawsuits?
More than 500 plaintiffs are currently participating in the social media addiction lawsuit. This multidistrict litigation, named MDL 3047 IN RE: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, is well underway in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
In the August 2024 update on active MDLs, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 557 pending actions. These actions are the lawsuits brought by victims and their families. They come from all regions of the country and represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and sexes. They report a wide range of related mental health concerns.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is presiding over MDL 3047. The case is already underway, with the sides filing pretrial motions and conducting discovery. Once they finish these steps and select bellwether trials, they will schedule the first cases to go before the court. The first bellwether trial could begin in Fall 2025.
What If I Have Questions About the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?
If you have additional questions about the social media addiction lawsuit or wonder if you or a loved one might be eligible, you can discuss it with our co-counsel who is familiar with the case. They provide free consultations.
This is generally the best way to learn about your legal options based on the facts of your case. They can evaluate the story you share with them about how social media addiction has adversely affected your life or your child’s life.
During this consultation, you can also learn how an attorney could help you build your case, file your paperwork, and participate in this lawsuit. They will also answer your questions about costs and fees. You want to look for an attorney working on contingency fees. You will not need to pay anything upfront, and you will only pay if you win.
Talk to Our Team About Filing a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
At The Goldwater Law Firm, we can help you understand your rights and next steps if you or a loved one suffers mental health concerns as a result of a social media addiction. We match victims from all 50 states to our law firm partners who are handling these lawsuits.
Contact us today for your free consultation with our team.
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