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Helped Clients Recover Over $25 Billion. Since 1979.
If you’re watching your child struggle with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or self-harm that seems tied to their social media use, you’re not imagining things. And you’re not alone in wondering whether the companies behind these platforms should be held responsible.
The short answer is yes. Parents across the country are successfully pursuing legal action against social media companies for the mental health harm their platforms have caused to children and teenagers. Here’s what you need to know about your legal options and whether your family might have a case.
For years, social media companies hid behind Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, claiming they couldn’t be held responsible for what happens on their platforms. But courts are increasingly rejecting this defense when the harm stems from how these companies designed their products, not just what users post.[1]
In September 2025, a California Superior Court delivered a decisive blow to social media companies by rejecting their attempts to block expert witnesses in coordinated addiction cases (JCCP 5255). The court ruled that medical and research experts can testify about how platform design features (algorithms, notifications, infinite scrolling) contribute to addiction, anxiety, and depression in young users.[1]
This ruling is significant because it confirms what many parents already know: these platforms were deliberately engineered to hook kids, and the companies behind them can be held accountable for the consequences.
As of October 2025, over 2,000 lawsuits are now consolidated in federal court in Northern California (MDL-3047), with the first major trial scheduled for November 2025 in California state court. Federal multidistrict litigation trials are expected to begin in late 2026. Additionally, 41 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits, and school districts nationwide are joining the litigation due to the mental health crisis they’re witnessing firsthand.[2]
Social media companies aren’t being sued simply because harmful content exists on their platforms. They’re being sued because they intentionally designed addictive features and promoted content they knew would harm children, all while hiding the risks from parents and the public.[3]
The legal claims against these companies include:
Product Liability
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube were deliberately designed with features that create compulsive use in adolescents. These include endless feeds, strategic notification timing, “likes” and engagement metrics, and algorithms that serve increasingly extreme content to keep users scrolling.[4]
Failure to Warn
Despite internal research showing serious mental health risks, these companies never warned parents or users about the dangers of their platforms for developing brains. Internal company documents revealed that Meta understood its platforms caused depression, anxiety, insomnia, and interference with education and daily life, yet the company publicly denied and downplayed these harmful effects.[3]
Negligence
Social media companies had a duty to protect minors from foreseeable harm. They failed by refusing to implement meaningful age verification, creating barriers that make it difficult for parents to monitor usage or for teens to voluntarily delete accounts, and optimizing algorithms for maximum engagement rather than user well-being.[3]
Privacy Violations
A central legal claim in many lawsuits is that social media companies violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by unlawfully collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. Companies used this data to refine addictive features targeting young users.[3]
The current wave of litigation targets the major social media companies whose platforms are most popular with young users:
Platform | Company | Primary Design Issues | Mental Health Risks |
Instagram & Facebook | Meta | Addictive engagement algorithms, “likes” metrics | Eating disorders, body dysmorphia, depression |
Snapchat | Snap Inc. | Disappearing messages, dangerous challenges | Predator exposure, risky behavior |
TikTok | ByteDance | Viral challenge promotion, extreme content | Self-harm, dangerous activities, deaths |
YouTube | Progressive radicalization algorithms | Exposure to extreme content |
All of these companies share a common thread: they prioritized profits and user engagement over the safety and mental health of children and teenagers.
You may have grounds for legal action if your child’s experience aligns with the following criteria. While every case is unique, families who can answer “yes” to these questions typically have stronger claims against social media companies:
Quick Assessment Checklist:
If you checked multiple boxes above, your family may have a viable case. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your specific situation.
Building a strong case requires documentation that demonstrates both the extent of your child’s social media use and the harm that resulted. The sooner you begin gathering this information, the stronger your case will be.
Critical documentation includes:
California has emerged as the epicenter of social media addiction litigation, giving families in our state particular advantages when pursuing these cases.
The state has taken aggressive legislative action through laws like SB 976 (the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act), which prohibits platforms from showing personalized content feeds to minors without parental consent.[5]
California courts have also been receptive to the argument that Section 230 protections don’t shield companies from liability for their own design choices. When harm stems from how platforms are built (not just what users post), companies can be held accountable.[1]
California law also provides special protections for minors regarding statutes of limitations. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 352(a), the time limit for filing a lawsuit is tolled (paused) until your child turns 18, giving you more time to understand the full scope of harm before deciding whether to pursue legal action.[6]
These lawsuits seek to compensate families for the real costs and consequences of social media addiction. Understanding what damages may be available can help you assess the full scope of your potential case:
Damage Type | What It Covers | Examples |
Economic Damages | Measurable financial losses | Medical expenses for treatment, therapy, and hospitalization; lost wages if a parent had to quit working to care for their child; costs of residential treatment programs; ongoing mental health care needs |
Non-Economic Damages | Pain and suffering your family has endured | Your child’s emotional trauma and reduced quality of life; your own anguish watching your child struggle; damage to family relationships; lasting psychological impact of mental health conditions developed during vulnerable teenage years |
Punitive Damages | Punishment for egregious corporate conduct | Available when evidence shows companies knowingly designed harmful products and deliberately hid the risks from families; serves to punish and deter future misconduct[7] |
While California provides extended time for minors to file lawsuits, you shouldn’t wait for several important reasons.
Evidence disappears quickly. Accounts get deleted, messages are lost, and memories fade. The sooner you begin preserving evidence, the stronger your case will be. Additionally, your child’s mental health needs immediate attention, and a legal case can provide resources for treatment costs you might not otherwise be able to afford.
The litigation is also moving forward rapidly, with the first trials beginning in late 2025. Early participants in mass tort litigation often have advantages in terms of settlement negotiations and trial preparation.[2]
At Schenk Law Firm, we understand both the devastating impact of social media addiction on families and the complex legal strategies needed to hold these powerful companies accountable.
Our approach combines:
We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family. There are no upfront costs, no hourly billing, and no financial risk to you for pursuing justice.
Thousands of families across the country are standing up to social media companies, and courts are finally listening. The September 2025 rulings represent a turning point. After years of hiding behind legal immunity, these companies are being forced to answer for the harm they’ve caused.
Your case matters beyond compensation for your family. It’s about forcing these companies to change their practices and protecting future generations from the same predatory design features that harmed your child.
The first trials are beginning soon, and the outcomes will shape this litigation for years to come. If your child has suffered mental health harm from social media addiction, now is the time to explore your legal options.
Contact The Schenk Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and help you understand whether you have a case. Let us handle the legal complexity while you focus on what matters most: your child’s recovery and your family’s healing.
[1] Soper, Taylor. “Social media giants lose challenge to experts testifying on harm.” Bloomberg Law/The Mercury News, September 23, 2025. https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/23/social-media-giants-lose-challenge-to-experts-testifying-on-harm/ (Reporting on Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl’s ruling in JCCP 5255, September 2025)
[2] “Social Media Addiction Lawsuit | Oct 2025 Update.” Lawsuit Information Center, October 2, 2025. https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/social-media-addiction-lawsuits.html
[3] “Attorney General James and Multistate Coalition Sue Meta for Harming Youth Mental Health.” Office of the New York Attorney General, October 24, 2023. https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2023/attorney-general-james-and-multistate-coalition-sue-meta-harming-youth
[4] “Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594761/
[5] California Senate Bill No. 976 – Social Media Platforms: Minors. California Legislative Information, September 20, 2024. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB976
[6] California Code of Civil Procedure § 352(a) – Tolling: Disability. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=352
[7] California Civil Code § 3294 – Exemplary Damages. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=3294
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IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION: This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Schenk Law Firm. The outcome of any legal matter depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each individual case, and results may vary. Past results do not guarantee or predict future outcomes.
The information presented here is current as of the publication date but may become outdated as litigation progresses and laws change. Social media addiction litigation is ongoing and evolving, with trial dates and legal developments subject to change.
For specific legal advice regarding your situation, please contact Schenk Law Firm directly for a confidential consultation. Statutes of limitations may apply to your case, and delays in seeking legal counsel could affect your rights.
This article may be considered attorney advertising under applicable state bar rules.