Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

Many people use one or more social media platforms as a part of their everyday lives. Today, people spend more time going between TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media sites than ever.

However, spending time on social media can become an addiction. Like other addictions, a social media addiction can cause serious harm, including severe mental health issues that result in self-harm or exploitation.

If you have suffered physical or mental health problems due to excessive social media use, you may have a potential legal claim. Gartlan Injury Law has extensive experience handling challenging legal claims and taking on major corporations like social media companies. Our dedication to success has earned us the respect and trust of numerous clients.

We’re here to help. We work with clients in Alabama and nationwide. Contact us today to discuss the specific facts of your social media addiction case in a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer and learn about your rights and options.

What Is Social Media Addiction?

When a person has a social media addiction, they compulsively and excessively use social media to the detriment of other aspects of their life.

When a person becomes addicted to social media, they may experience the following:

• Uncontrollable urge to engage with social media platforms
• Neglect of other responsibilities, such as schoolwork, social relationships, household chores, or job duties
• Dependency on social media to generate positive or pleasurable emotions, such as acceptance, validation, or anger (often sparked by “rage bait” social media content).

As with other kinds of addiction, a person may need to spend increasing amounts of time on social media to experience the same emotional effects. They may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they cannot use social media, such as anxiety, irritability, or restlessness.

What Are Common Signs and Effects of Social Media Addiction?

Social media addictions can lead to various mental health issues that, in turn, potentially cause physical harm.

Some of the most common signs that a person suffers from adverse effects of a social media addiction include:

• Anxiety
• Body dysmorphia
• Depression
• Difficulty focusing
• Eating disorders
• Injuries or death from TikTok challenges
• Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
• Low self-esteem
• Self-harm
• Sexual exploitation
• Suicidal thoughts and suicide.

Do Social Media Companies Design Platforms to Make Them Addictive?

Multiple class action lawsuits and multi-district litigation actions filed nationwide allege that the most prominent social media companies have intentionally designed features in their platforms to make them addictive and increase the time that users spend online.

Some of the ways that social media platforms allegedly addict users include:

• Algorithms that keep users endlessly scrolling through content
• Promotion of viral “challenges”
• Gamification of metrics such as views, reposts, and “likes”
• Exposing users to harmful content that fosters mental health issues, such as depression, body dysmorphia, or loss of self-esteem
• Promotion of “rage bait” content that keeps users engaging.

Who Can File a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

A person in Alabama or any other state who has suffered mental or physical harm due to a social media addiction may have grounds to file a lawsuit against a social media company, including harm such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Body dysmorphia (which can lead to eating disorders and self-harm).

Numerous government officials have also filed lawsuits against social media platforms, alleging public nuisance and state consumer protection claims. Multiple state attorneys general, municipal officials, and school districts have also taken legal action to hold social media companies accountable for the allegedly addictive features of their platforms.

Which Social Media Companies Are Named in Lawsuits?

Some of the most popular social media platforms have become the subject of lawsuits alleging that companies developed features designed to addict users to platforms and maximize the amount of time they spend on the platforms to increase ad revenue for the social media companies.

A few social media giants that are defendants in social media harm lawsuits, including claims alleging social media adolescent addiction, which has led to mental health risks among young users, include:

• Facebook/Instagram (Meta Platforms)
• Snapchat
• TikTok
• YouTube.

Is There a Social Media Addiction Class-Action Lawsuit?

Various parties have filed multiple individual and class-action lawsuits against major social media companies, including Meta (Facebook/Instagram), TikTok, and Snapchat.

Currently, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California presides over a multi-district litigation alleging that various social media companies designed defective platforms intended to maximize screen time, which can cause addictive behavior in users, especially adolescents.

This case combines the lawsuits filed by individuals and families, multiple states’ attorneys general, local school districts, and municipalities.

What Compensation Can You Seek in a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

In a social media addiction lawsuit, you may have a claim to compensation for various economic and non-economic harm you suffered due to emotional or physical harm caused by a social media addiction. Financial recovery can include money for:

• Costs of medical or mental health treatment for mental health conditions or subsequent physical harm you suffer due to a mental health condition
• Lost wages for missed work while undergoing treatment for mental health issues, injuries, or medical conditions
• Emotional trauma and distress
• Physical pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life.

How Can an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?

A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer from Gartlan Injury Law can help you pursue your legal options for seeking compensation and accountability for the harm you suffered due to social media addiction by:

• Investigating your claim to obtain evidence linking your medical or mental health conditions to a social media addiction
• Documenting the financial and personal losses you’ve suffered due to harm caused by your social media addiction
• Identifying liable parties
• Evaluating your legal options and filing your claims, including guiding you through complex claims procedures in a class-action or multi-district litigation proceeding.

Contact an Alabama Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Attorney

If you or a loved one has experienced mental health issues or other emotional or physical harm due to a social media addiction, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your options for seeking accountability in a social media addiction lawsuit.

Our attorneys put our clients first. We take the time to get to know you and understand your needs and concerns. Our honest representation and aggressive trial strategies allow us to achieve positive results for our clients. Contact Gartlan Injury Law today for a free consultation to learn how our firm can assist you.

Visit Our Alabama Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Law Offices