Social Media Addiction Lawsuit FAQ

What Is the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

The social media addiction case began as individual personal injury lawsuits against the tech companies based on claims that their platforms were purposefully designed to be addictive and that excessive use can cause serious mental health concerns, especially among adolescents and teens.

In October of 2022, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated these cases into a mass tort: MDL 3047 IN RE: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is overseeing the progress of this MDL in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Multidistrict litigation consolidates many similar cases for pretrial motions, the discovery process, and the first few bellwether trials. This allows the plaintiffs to build a stronger, more effective case against these giant tech companies by pooling resources and sharing evidence.

What Is the Current Status of the Lawsuit?

This lawsuit continues to move forward through pretrial motions and discovery. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reported 557 plaintiffs participating in the social media addiction MDL as of August 1, 2024. More pending actions continue to come in each month, and many more victims may be eligible.

The case is still in the early stages under Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’s watchful eye, but it is progressing quickly. At The Goldwater Law Firm, our co-counsel is accepting cases in all 50 states. We can help you get started today. Contact us for a free consultation.

What Harm Did the Victims Suffer Due to Social Media Addiction?

The plaintiffs in the social media addiction MDL report a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression and suicide attempts. In general, the victims filing these lawsuits primarily experienced the following serious mental health concerns:

• Suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and other self-harm
• Body dysmorphia and eating disorders

Individuals who qualify to participate in this lawsuit used a social media platform—or numerous platforms—for several hours a day when they were children, adolescents, or teenagers. They also have a diagnosis of one of the above mental health concerns.

It is important to note that some families lost their children and teens to suicide attempts. If this tragic event happened to your family, you can seek justice by participating in the social media addiction lawsuit and holding the social media companies accountable. Our team will discuss your loss with you, treating your family with the utmost empathy and respect. Contact us today to learn more.

What Damages Are Available for Victims of Social Media Addiction?

The plaintiffs’ goals in filing social media addiction lawsuits are three-fold:

• Holding the liable parties accountable
• Recovering compensation for their related expenses and losses
• Making changes to prevent others from suffering injuries

To this end, the lawsuits seek fair compensation for plaintiffs that covers a wide range of expenses and losses they experienced. The recoverable damages in a settlement or verdict could include:

Economic Losses

Victims could recover compensation for their current and future economic costs and losses, including medical care costs, counseling, lost income or educational losses, and related expenses.

Non-economic Losses

Victims can also seek compensation for their intangible losses, such as loss of enjoyment in life, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

Wrongful Death

If your family lost a loved one to social media-related suicide, they may be able to recover wrongful death damages in a social media addiction lawsuit. These cases have very specific rules for who can file and the damages recoverable. Our co-counsel can help you understand your options and navigate the process for you.

Punitive Damages

Some plaintiffs may seek and recover punitive damages in a mass tort. These damages penalize the defendant for their extreme negligence or willful behavior and send a message to others not to engage in similar activities. Punitive damages are rare and may not be available in this case.

Injunctive Relief

Injunctive relief is an agreed-on or court-ordered action required of the defendant after the close of a case. Injunctive relief, in this case, could include warnings for young users, changes to the algorithms used to keep users on the platform, or awareness campaigns for suicide prevention.

Who Qualifies for the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

In general, there are three criteria individuals must meet to be eligible to join the social media addiction lawsuit:

Fall Into the Correct Age Range

Victims must have been children, adolescents, or teenagers when the social media addiction initially developed and occurred.

They Must Have a History of Excessive Social Media Use

The victim must have a history of using at least one of the named social media platforms for several hours a day. Other signs could include having difficulty when they cannot access social media or turning down opportunities for activities because of their need to check social media. The named platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

They Must Have a Documented History of a Qualifying Mental Health Concern

Victims will have medical records or other documentation that they demonstrated one or more of the serious mental health concerns mentioned in the lawsuit, such as suicide ideation, suicide attempts, body dysmorphia, or eating disorders.

We can connect you with our partner law firms, who can determine if you qualify to file a social media addiction lawsuit. We provide free consultations. Contact us today. This is the best way to learn if you or your child might be eligible to participate.

Who Are the Defendants in the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

The defendants in the social media addiction lawsuit are several well-known tech companies that developed social media platforms. This includes:

• Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc.)
• Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc.)
• Snapchat (Snap Inc.)
• TikTok (ByteDance)
• YouTube (Alphabet Inc.)

Several of these are multi-trillion-dollar companies with media platforms that users could use excessively to the point of addiction. The lawsuits allege the developers of these platforms purposefully designed them to draw in users for long periods and encourage frequent visits.

How Long Do I Have to Join the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

The possible deadline for filing a social media addiction lawsuit depends on the circumstances of your unique case and the state in which you live. Our co-counsel can assess your options and determine which statute of limitations might apply.

For participation in MDL 3047, it is best to act quickly. While the case is still in the midst of the discovery process, it is moving forward. Right now, dozens of new victims continue to file their claims and join every month.

Contact our team today for a free consultation. Filing your case as soon as possible is the best way to protect your rights.

How Can the Goldwater Law Firm Help Me?

The Goldwater Law Firm and our trusted law firm partners have fought for injured parties for over two decades. Our award-winning firm has a strong reputation for treating clients with empathy and respect.

In cases when huge companies cause harm to individuals, especially children and teens, we believe the need to hold these companies responsible and recover compensation is essential for the future of the victims. We understand why victims and their families are angry over the actions of these companies and hope to help them make things right.

Working with co-counsel who represent clients in all 50 states, we ensure victims have the resources they need and the legal representation they deserve. If you are eligible to participate in the social media addiction lawsuit, we are here for you.

Our extensive network of experts and specialists is available to help support your case with convincing evidence. You can count on your attorney to develop a compelling case and fight for the payout you qualify to receive. Plaintiffs do not pay any upfront fees or costs in these cases. They pay only from the money recovered for them in the case.