Social Media Companies Face Lawsuits Over Harm to Young People

Many lawsuits are happening against social media companies like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube. People say these apps are designed to be addictive and cause harm, especially to young people. The companies say their apps are safe and they try to protect kids.
By Newsroom | Technology, Law |

Concerns Mount as Lawsuits Allege Platforms Cause Mental Health Damage

Social media companies are facing significant legal challenges, with numerous lawsuits alleging their platforms are designed to be addictive and contribute to mental health problems, particularly among young users. These legal actions, brought forth by states and individuals, aim to hold these tech giants accountable for the alleged harm caused by their products. While platforms like Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat are named in these suits, the legal proceedings are progressing with some companies settling while others head to trial. The core of the dispute centers on whether these platforms are inherently addictive and whether the companies were aware of and concealed the negative impacts on user well-being.

Social media companies are being sued for harming their users’ mental health – but are the platforms addictive? - 1

The legal scrutiny of social media's impact on mental health has intensified in recent years.

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Social media companies are being sued for harming their users’ mental health – but are the platforms addictive? - 2

  • October 24, 2023: 33 U.S. states filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, are designed to be addictive and harm children's mental health. This action specifically targets Meta's alleged profit motives and misinformation regarding the dangers of its platforms. The lawsuit also claims Meta collects data on children under 13 without parental consent.

  • November 25, 2025: A lawsuit was filed alleging that Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat were aware of the addictive nature of their platforms for teens and continued to target them. Spokespeople for Meta, TikTok, and Snap stated that the filings misrepresented their platforms and safety efforts.

  • January 27, 2026: Meta and YouTube were set to go to trial in California state court over allegations that their apps harm children, following TikTok's settlement in a similar lawsuit. The terms of TikTok's settlement were not disclosed.

  • February 8, 2026: Reports highlight ongoing legal challenges and the debate over social media's addictiveness, with experts drawing comparisons to substance addictions.

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Companies like Meta have countered these allegations, stating they have taken steps to ensure young people's safety online and that the lawsuits mischaracterize their efforts and research.

Social media companies are being sued for harming their users’ mental health – but are the platforms addictive? - 3

Allegations of Deliberate Design and Concealed Research

Central to the lawsuits is the accusation that social media platforms are intentionally designed to foster addictive behavior.

Social media companies are being sued for harming their users’ mental health – but are the platforms addictive? - 4

  • Addictive Features: Plaintiffs allege that platforms incorporate features specifically to keep users, especially young ones, engaged for extended periods. This is argued to be a deliberate strategy to maximize engagement and, consequently, profit.

  • Targeting Teen Users: Despite knowing the potential harms, companies are accused of continuing to target teen users. This includes bypassing parents and educators to push platforms into schools.

  • Buried Research: A significant claim is that these tech giants have suppressed their own internal research that revealed the detrimental effects of their platforms on teen mental health. Meta, for instance, is accused of mischaracterizing decisions to end such studies.

The Debate Over "Addiction" and Causation

The legal arguments often hinge on the definition of "addiction" and the provable link between social media use and mental health issues.

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  • Clinical Diagnosis: Tech companies, such as Meta and YouTube, argue that there is no established clinical diagnosis for social media addiction. They also contend that a direct causal link between using social media and experiencing mental health problems has not been definitively proven.

  • Expert Opinions: While large-scale research suggests social media has a small negative impact on mental health at the population level, individual harms can be more severe. Brain-imaging research has shown that excessive social media use is associated with brain differences similar to those seen in excessive gambling. However, the intensity of withdrawal symptoms is noted as being much more significant in substance addictions.

  • Circumvented Safeguards: Measures implemented by social media companies to address concerns about children's mental health, such as age restrictions (e.g., banning users under 13), are often described as easily circumvented, indicating a failure in enforcement.

The lawsuits rely on a combination of alleged internal company knowledge, research findings, and user experiences.

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  • Internal Data and Studies: Plaintiffs claim companies possess internal data and research demonstrating the addictive nature of their platforms and their negative impact on mental health. The alleged burying of this research is a key point.

  • User Testimonies: Personal accounts, such as one mentioned where an individual felt compelled to constantly use their phone and was subsequently shown content related to self-harm and restrictive eating on Instagram, are part of the evidence.

  • Brain Imaging Research: Studies involving brain imaging are cited to show similarities between excessive social media use and other addictive behaviors, such as excessive gambling.

Conflicting Perspectives on Platform Design and Impact

A clear division exists between the plaintiffs' allegations and the defense presented by the social media companies.

ViewpointAllegationsCompany Stance
Plaintiffs (States, Individuals)Platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive. Companies knowingly caused harm and concealed research.Focus on profit motives and disregard for user well-being, especially among minors. Safeguards are ineffective and easily bypassed.
Defendants (Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Snap)No clinical diagnosis for social media addiction. No proven direct link to mental health problems.Platforms are safe. Efforts have been made to protect young users. Lawsuits mischaracterize research and safety measures. Focus on parental responsibility and user choice.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The ongoing legal battles represent a significant moment in the societal reckoning with the impact of social media. The outcomes of these trials and settlements will likely set precedents for corporate accountability in the digital age. The central questions revolve around the intentionality of platform design, the extent to which companies are responsible for user well-being, and the legal definition and recognition of social media-related harms. Whether these platforms are deemed legally "addictive" or simply habit-forming will have profound implications for industry regulation, platform design, and user protection measures moving forward. The continued focus on these issues suggests a growing demand for greater transparency and responsibility from major tech companies.

Primary Sources and Context

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are social media companies being sued?
People are suing them because they say the apps are made to be addictive and hurt young people's minds.
Q: Which companies are being sued?
Meta (Facebook, Instagram), YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat are named in these lawsuits.
Q: Do the companies agree they cause harm?
No, the companies say their apps are safe and that there is no proof they cause mental health problems.
Q: What do the lawsuits want?
They want to make the companies responsible for the harm they believe their apps cause.
Q: Are there any settlements?
Yes, TikTok has settled one lawsuit, while others are still going through the courts.