Facebook Mental Health Lawsuit

Facebook mental health lawsuits allege that the company failed to warn users about the potential dangers of addiction from using the platform. These suits allege that Facebook’s defective design causes real harms. They also allege the company has repeatedly sought to maximize user engagement at the expense of young people’s mental health.

According to these cases, the failure to warn is made worse by the company’s targeted marketing to young people. Many parents are concerned about how social media use impacts their children long-term.

Multiple studies link social media use to a number of mental health problems. Children and young adults are at particular risk. A young person’s brain and sense of self are still developing. This makes them more susceptible to the input and reward designs of platforms like Facebook.

One analysis looked at the findings from 13 studies on the effects of social media use on users aged 13 to 18. Researchers found several types of behaviors that can contribute to mental health problems related to social media, including:

• Being dependent on social media (addictive behavior)
• Devoting extreme amounts of time to social media
• Investing effort in the active use of social media
• Repeatedly checking for messages

Teens and children exhibiting these behaviors may be at risk for serious mental health issues from Facebook addiction.

Facebook addiction may lead users to use the platform at the expense of other parts of their lives. Researchers use “Facebook addiction” to refer to a person’s compulsive overuse of Facebook. Addictions of any kind are behaviors people repeat to alter their mood. These behaviors often have negative consequences for a person’s mental and physical well-being.

As of 2024, Facebook is the most popular social media platform, with about 3 billion active monthly users. Because of the platform’s popularity, Facebook addiction is a pressing mental health problem for many people today.

Who is most affected by Facebook addiction?

Studies show that young people, particularly teenage girls, are some of the most at-risk for the alleged harms of social media companies. Senators and lawmakers have accused Facebook of consciously targeting younger users despite the platform’s 13-year-old age restriction.

How to tell if someone is addicted to Facebook

If you believe you or someone you love is experiencing Facebook addiction, contact a mental health professional for help. Mental health professionals are equipped to determine if someone’s behavior has strayed into addictive territory.

Professionals may use scales and questionnaires to determine if a person’s behavior is addictive.

One scale used to measure Facebook addiction is the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale. This tool measures a person’s Facebook habits in six areas along a scale of 1 (very rarely) to 5 (very often). The scale items (shown below) follow traditional addiction measures adapted for Facebook use:

1. Salience: A heightened state of attention. You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or planning how to use it.
2. Tolerance: Adjustment to using the platform and craving more. You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.
3. Mood modification: Use of the platform to alter your current state. You use Facebook to forget about personal problems.
4. Relapse: Failed attempts to solve the issue alone. You try to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.
5. Withdrawal: Consequences of not using the platform. You become restless or troubled if you can’t use Facebook.
6. Conflict: Use of Facebook affects your day-to-day life. You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job or studies.

This scale can help determine the extent of a person’s social media addiction. Mental health professionals may also choose to use other means to evaluate someone. What’s important is that people in crisis over Facebook or other social media use get professional attention to help solve their problems.

Studies report negative mental health effects associated with minors using social media. Several have linked Facebook use to depression. Research paints a picture of a youth mental health crisis with social media at the center.

Thirteen studies found a correlation between social media use and depression, anxiety and psychological stress. Facebook-specific studies also reported depression-related problems like insomnia.

Many people have more than one social media account. Having multiple accounts is associated with increased anxiety in adolescents. Among teen users, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram are very popular. Meta is a defendant in social media lawsuits as it owns both Facebook and Instagram.

In need of help?

If you or a loved one is struggling with suicide ideation, please seek medical help. Also know that free, confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline if you dial 988. Visit the Lifeline online at https://988lifeline.org.

The National Eating Disorder Association is also available online at nationaleatingdisorders.org or by phone toll-free at 1-800-931-2237.

Consequences of Facebook addiction

Addiction to social media has been linked to several consequences, mostly with the mental health of users. In extreme cases, it can lead to depression and suicidal ideation and activities.

Studies link these mental health problems to social media use and addiction:

• ADHD
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Body dysmorphia and body image issues
• Damage to body image and self-esteem
• Death
• Depression
• Dissociative behavior
• Eating disorders
• Exposure to predators
• Increased risky behavior
• Insomnia and other sleep issues
• Self-harm
• Sexual exploitation
• Social isolation
• Suicidal ideation
• Withdrawal symptoms

A U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory characterized these issues with Meta platforms as a “youth mental health crisis.”

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these or other mental health issues, contact a mental health professional. In extreme cases, social media-addicted teens may feel or indicate suicidal urges. These urges and indications should be treated seriously. Seek medical help right away.

Another resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which can be contacted at 988. Calling this number will connect you with a trained staff member. Calls are free and confidential. You can also visit their website for help at https://988lifeline.org.

People are filing social media addiction lawsuits over Facebook’s alleged harm to their mental health and general well-being. Facebook addiction lawsuits are a type of social media lawsuit. These lawsuits seek accountability for harms allegedly caused or worsened by Facebook. They also seek compensation for mental health injuries.

Facebook mental health lawsuits are brought against the platform’s parent company, Meta Platforms, Inc. Meta is also responsible for Instagram and is likewise a defendant in Instagram mental health lawsuits.

Social media addiction lawsuits often include several common components. These lawsuits allege that platforms and apps like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are designed to keep users coming back, potentially fostering addiction. Social media mental health lawsuits also include claims of social media's purported negative effects, such as:

• Body dissatisfaction
• Depression and anxiety
• Self-harm
• Sleep deprivation
• Suicidal ideation and attempts

Personal injury lawsuits are filed individually and may be filed directly into the multidistrict litigation (MDL) docket by an attorney. MDLs combine cases with similar facts to help speed up the litigation process. Cases in an MDL then go to trial individually. They can be resolved with a verdict or a settlement. The social media addiction lawsuit MDL is in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. As of December 2, 2024, there were 815 lawsuits pending in the MDL.

What is the legal basis of Facebook addiction lawsuits?

The legal basis of Facebook addiction lawsuits concerns how the product is designed. They allege that the company has created its platform to maximize engagement by including defective, addictive features. These addictive features mimic tricks used by slot machines and tobacco companies. These features can be particularly harmful to children’s developing minds.

Facebook mental health lawsuits also allege that Facebook has failed to warn teens and their parents about the dangers of using social media. These complaints note that Facebook’s parent company has failed to warn users about physical and mental health harms such as:

• Addiction and compulsive use
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Exacerbated executive dysfunction
• Insomnia
• Self-harm
• Sexual exploitation from adult users

These lawsuits further allege that Facebook could provide young users with warnings about compulsive use but does not. They could institute features to warn users about repeatedly checking the app or spending excessive hours online. However, Facebook has failed to implement these safety features. It also has not provided users with instructions on how to safely use the platform.

Facebook cases and other social media lawsuits do not concern third-party content posted on the sites. People may encounter upsetting posts on Facebook and other platforms, but those pieces of media are protected under the First Amendment. However, Meta’s intentional design choices that foster addiction in children are not protected. In fact, they may be even more harmful. This means Facebook addiction attorneys are able to file lawsuits about the apps’ designs.

As part of our efforts to hold Meta accountable, Motley Rice has filed numerous individual lawsuits against the company. Many of these lawsuits are consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), which is a process where related cases get grouped in federal court for pretrial matters but are heard at trial individually.

The social media MDL was formed in October 2022. Its titled In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL 3047). The MDL consolidated cases against Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Google (parent company of YouTube), Snap Inc. (parent company of Snapchat) and ByteDance (parent company of TikTok). They are being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

Our clients allege Meta failed to protect young people from the harms of its platforms. They allege that Meta did so despite evidence of notable risks associated with using Instagram and Facebook. Our clients also allege Meta designed Instagram with addictive features designed to hook minors.

The plaintiffs in these cases argue the actions of Meta and other social media companies caused them or their children mental harm.

Motley Rice social media attorney Previn Warren was appointed co-lead counsel for the social media MDL in November 2022. This leadership position means that Previn Warren was court-appointed to oversee and manage the litigation on behalf of all plaintiffs’ interests as the MDL progresses.

School districts suing Facebook

Many school districts have filed lawsuits against Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Alphabet/Google (YouTube), and other social media companies. Joining the personal injury claims in the social media MDL, school districts allege that they see the harms of social media among students firsthand.

Additionally, the districts believe that these harms have significantly impacted schools. Many resources are devoted to helping children with mental health issues from social media use. This includes anything from altering lesson plans to addressing changes in children’s attention spans to hiring additional staff to prevent vandalism related to social media challenges.

School district cases do have a few key differences from the individual personal injury cases.

Purpose of the cases: 

• Individuals want personal justice for children’s injuries and suffering. 
• School districts want to avoid future harm to students and recoup time, money and effort spent to address this public health issue.

Damages sought in the cases: 

• Individuals want compensation for physical and mental harms. Compensation may include coverage for medical expenses (economic damages) and emotional distress (non-economic damages). 
• School districts want compensation for the economic damages to their communities. This could include costs associated with hiring additional mental health counseling services.

In 2024, Meta asked U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to reject the school districts’ lawsuits. But she ruled that the cases could go forward. Judge Gonzalez Rogers rejected some of the claims based on a law that says tech companies aren’t liable for problematic content as long as they make a good-faith effort to address or remove the content. She ruled that other school district claims may proceed. 

Government officials are taking the damaging effects of social media seriously. Most state attorneys general have sued Meta and other social media companies. These lawsuits allege Meta platforms are intentionally designed to addict young people.

For example, dozens of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in the federal MDL. This lawsuit alleges that Meta engaged in efforts “to misrepresent, conceal, and downplay the impact of ... features on young users’ mental and physical health.”

States and Commonwealths involved in this action include: 

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

In October 2024, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Meta must face lawsuits filed by state attorneys general (AGs). Attorneys for Meta attempted to have the lawsuits dismissed. They argued that the harms against children aren’t concrete and substantial. They also argued that the harms could not prove the use of unfair business practices. 

Judge Gonzalez Rogers dismissed parts of the state suits under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which might protect features such as infinite scroll and displaying likes. However, Section 230 may not protect filters that change a user’s appearance.  

Legislative action to address social media harm

Officials are also taking action beyond filing lawsuits.

• New York Attorney General Letitia James and other officials proposed a new state law to protect children online.
• The U.S. Senate has held hearings on social media’s relation to mental health. This included testimony from a former Facebook data analyst. She stated that Meta knows how to make Facebook safer for young people but won't implement these safety measures because they may negatively impact profits.
• Congress is considering several bills, and has passed a bill into law, to protect youth on the internet and hold social media companies accountable:
  1. The “Revising Existing Procedures on Reporting via Technology Act” (REPORT Act) aims to strengthen the reporting of online child sexual exploitation to the CyberTipline and modernize the liabilities for such reports. The REPORT Act became law on May 7, 2024. 
  2. The “Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act” (EARN IT Act) establishes a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention responsible for developing voluntary best practices. The EARN IT Act, “imposes basic accountability on tech companies that are complicit in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.”
  3. The “Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act” (STOP CSAM Act) creates transparency requirements for online platforms; increases accountability for online platforms knowingly hosting, storing, promoting, or facilitating the distribution of CSAM; improves reporting of CSAM; and increases protections for child victims testifying in court and receiving restitution.
  4. The “Kids Online Safety Act” (KOSA) requires social media companies to “provide minors with options to protect their information, disable addictive product features, and opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations. KOSA gives parents new controls to help protect their children and spot harmful behaviors; creates a duty for online platforms to prevent and mitigate specific dangers to minors such as promotion of suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation; and requires independent audits and research into how these platforms impact the well-being of children.” 
  5. The "Kids Off Social Media Act" aims to set a minimum age of 13 for all social media platforms and hopes to keep social media companies from letting their algorithms show targeted content to children under 17 years of age. This piece of legislation also aims to limit access to social media platforms in schools. 
• New York City Public Schools announced plans to ban student cell phone use in the summer of 2024. Administrators said the ban would address distraction and social media addiction. States that ban students from using cell phones during class time include Florida and Indiana. In other states, individual school districts are crafting their own policies.

This increased awareness of social media's dangers is a promising step toward creating real change. But companies like Meta have seemingly harmed and continue to cause harm to young people’s mental health.

For those already harmed by Meta’s platform, a Facebook mental health lawsuit can hold the company accountable. Many parents and young people are reaching out to Facebook mental health lawyers to explore their legal options.

Can I sue Facebook for emotional distress?

If your child (or you, when you were under 18) was diagnosed with a mental condition connected to Facebook use and addiction, you may be able to sue for emotional distress. There are many different harms claimed in social media lawsuits, including emotional distress.

Can I sue Facebook for depression?

Yes, you may be able to sue Meta (Facebook’s parent company) for depression. If your child (or you, when you were under 18) was diagnosed with depression connected to Facebook use, you may have a case. Depression is a common claim in social media lawsuits.

How does Section 230 affect social media lawsuits?

Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act protects social media companies from responsibility for content published on their platforms. However, the social media harm lawsuits are not centered around harmful content. Rather, they place the burden on the harmful platforms created by social media app companies.

Meta filed a motion to dismiss an ongoing lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, citing protection under Section 230. However, on September 9, 2024, Judge Neal Kravitz denied the motion to dismiss. His decision follows several other recent court decisions against Meta in Utah and New Mexico. In his decision, Judge Kravitz wrote, “Section 230 provides no refuge to Meta because none of the omissions-based deceptive trade practice claims seeks to treat Meta as a publisher of any particular third-party content.” 

How can I find lawyers to sue Facebook?

If you believe you have a Facebook addiction case, look for lawyers with experience in personal injury litigation, mass torts and multi district litigation. Motley Rice is currently accepting social media mental health cases. Our law firm has the resources and our lawyers have the experience to litigate against large companies for personal harms.

Motley Rice attorneys have been fighting for families and children for decades. Our experience includes suing tech companies in matters concerning mental health, data breach, privacy and securities fraud.

You may be eligible for a lawsuit from social media use if you or your child:

• Attempted or died by suicide
• Was treated for self-harm (including but not limited to cutting)
• Were diagnosed by a health care professional with a mental health disorder (including but not limited to disordered eating).

Please contact us to learn more about how a Facebook mental health lawyer can help.

Your well-being is important to our team.

Read more about filing a social media lawsuit.