Trials Starting Mid-2026·2,300+ people have filed

Is your child's mental health suffering because of social media? You're not alone.

Internal documents show these companies knew their apps were harming teens — and kept going.

vs. Metavs. ByteDance (TikTok)vs. Snap Inc.vs. Google (YouTube)

The story

In 2021, a Facebook whistleblower leaked internal company research that confirmed what many parents already suspected: Instagram was making teen mental health worse, and Meta knew it. Internal slides showed that one in three teen girls said Instagram made their body image issues worse. But instead of fixing the problem, the company explored launching a version of Instagram for kids under 13.

It's not just Meta. TikTok's algorithm pushes increasingly extreme content. Snapchat's streaks create anxiety about breaking them.

YouTube autoplay leads kids down rabbit holes. These features aren't bugs — they're designed to maximize time on the app, which means more ad revenue. The lawsuits argue these companies made a deliberate choice: addict children to their platforms and deal with the consequences later.

Schools are also suing, saying they're overwhelmed by the mental health fallout.

“Parents describe watching their previously happy, social children become withdrawn, anxious, and obsessed with their phones. Some families are dealing with self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide attempts.”

Reports from affected people

Health problems linked to this

●Depression or major depressive disorder

●Anxiety disorders

●Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphia)

●Self-harm

●Suicidal thoughts or attempts

●Sleep disorders

●Social media addiction

Who's affected

✓Your child (under 18) was a heavy user of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or YouTube

✓They were diagnosed with a mental health condition

✓You believe their social media use contributed to their mental health problems

Probably doesn't apply if

✕Mental health conditions diagnosed before the child started using social media

✕Adult users (the current cases focus on children and teens)

What you'd need to file

1Evidence of your child's social media use (account history, screen time data)

2Mental health diagnosis from a doctor or therapist

3Treatment records (therapy, medication, hospitalization)

Timeline

2021

The Facebook Papers

Whistleblower Frances Haugen reveals that Meta's own research showed Instagram was harming teen mental health.

2022

Families start suing

Parents and school districts begin filing lawsuits against major social media companies.

2023

Cases consolidated

Thousands of cases are combined into federal proceedings in California.

Jan 2026

First settlements

Snapchat and TikTok settle individual cases just before trial. More trials ahead.

Mid-2026

School district trials begin

A school district case goes to trial in June, with more individual trials throughout the year.

People are asking

My teen seems addicted to their phone but hasn't been diagnosed with anything. What should I do?

A diagnosis is currently required for a legal claim, but the most important thing is your child's wellbeing. Talk to their pediatrician or a therapist about your concerns — that's a good first step either way.

Can adults sue too?

The current lawsuits focus specifically on harm to children and teens. Some individual adult cases exist, but the major litigation is about minors.

My child uses social media but seems fine. Should I be concerned?

Effects vary widely. Mental health experts recommend open conversations, reasonable screen time limits, and watching for warning signs like sleep changes, social withdrawal, or mood swings.

Named products & brands

InstagramFacebookTikTokSnapchatYouTube

Could this affect you?

Quick check · 30 seconds

1.Is your child (under 18) a heavy user of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or YouTube?

2.Has your child been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or engaged in self-harm?

3.Do you believe social media played a role in their mental health struggles?

Not legal advice. Informal screening only.

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Heads up: This is not legal advice. We're not lawyers. This is educational info to help you understand what's going on. Talk to an actual attorney about your situation.