Instagram Eating Disorder Lawsuit

People are filing lawsuits against Instagram and Meta, its parent company, because of alleged mental health issues stemming from problematic platform use. Studies and internal documentation from Meta show that the company is aware of these effects.

Meta claims that it tries to prevent these issues by not promoting anorexia and bulimia related content to teens. However, the content on Instagram is not the biggest issue. Instagram itself has been shown to foster problematic use in younger people. Mental health impacts can be an unfortunate outcome of Instagram use.

For young users, this can shake developing senses of self and lead to self-harming behavior, like an eating disorder.

Yes, multiple studies show a link between Instagram and eating disorders. As social media use among youth has risen, so have eating disorders. Studies from around the globe have explored this correlation. Social media use and mental health issues are often proportional to each other. In Instagram’s case, the image-based app may cause or worsen body image issues and eating disorders.

Evidence linking Instagram and eating disorders includes:

• Instagram’s internal research shows that teens who felt bad about their bodies after using the platform saw approximately triple the eating disorder-adjacent content that other teens saw. The first group’s feed was approximately 10.5% eating disorder-adjacent content, compared to 3.3 percent for other teens in the study. Plaintiffs allege this shows that the content is not the biggest issue. Rather, it's the design of the algorithm that pushes vulnerable children down harmful rabbit holes.
• A study of children in grades seven and eight found that greater daily use of Instagram was linked to a higher likelihood of disordered eating for young girls.
• A study of pre-adolescents found that users of Instagram, YouTube and TikTok reported more issues with body image and eating disorders than non-users.
• Meta’s internal research says that Instagram can pressure teens to live up to unrealistic body standards. The faulty body perception could lead to depression, eating disorders, loneliness and body dysmorphia.
• Research conducted in 2023 showed women with eating disorder symptoms also used Instagram problematically. The study defined problematic use according to the Bergen Social Media Addiction scale.

These studies are not the only evidence connecting Instagram to eating disorders. Insiders at Meta, Instagram's parent company, have publicly discussed the platform’s harmful impact on youth.

“We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls,” one Meta employee said about Instagram’s effects.

Does Instagram promote anorexia?

Plaintiffs allege there’s evidence that Instagram promotes anorexia in teens by fostering overuse that leads to mental health issues. Eating disorders like anorexia are just one of the possible harms involved in social media mental health lawsuits against Instagram.

Internal Meta documents suggest that the company is aware of its link with eating disorders. Here are some of Meta’s own findings on how Instagram affects users:

• 17% of teenage girls said Instagram worsens eating disorders.
• One in three teenage girls have body image issues after using Instagram.
• One in 10 teenage boys feel worse about themselves after using Instagram.

Instagram aims to keep users engaged. Former Facebook researchers reported the company designed its products to encourage engagement with and between kids. Instagram implemented the design despite knowing the platform’s negative impact on the mental health of teens. Instagram continues to target young people for their platform:

• In 2018, the company heavily marketed toward 13- to 15-year-olds to join the app.
• In 2020, the company introduced Reels, a short video feature designed to entice kids who had begun to drift toward TikTok.

Instagram algorithm and features: Built to foster problematic use and unattainable standards

Other product features also have a negative impact on users. Filters alter images to present an ideal self. Also, getting likes and comments release dopamine. This may encourage users to post more content and interact with others more.

Meta itself acknowledged the role of filters to create unattainable beauty standards. These product features have grave effects on how a user may perceive their own body image.

In October 2023, 33 state attorneys general filed suit against Meta for their platforms’ impact on teen mental health. Eight other states and the District of Columbia have filed separate lawsuits against Meta with similar claims.

Research suggests that adults are better equipped than children to resist the risks of social media. Children may not have the impulse control and psychological resilience to regulate how they use Instagram.

Meta is aware of the research. Plaintiffs allege Instagram counts on the release of dopamine and the resulting impulsive reactions kids experience when they get likes or comments on Instagram. The company’s developers continue to exploit young users’ lack of maturity and impulse control.

Young people have been a crucial component of the company’s business model. However, Meta’s own internal research found a pattern of harm for children and teens. It found that because of social comparison, young people are more likely to suffer from body image issues if they use Instagram. A whistleblower leaked internal documents to the Wall Street Journal that corroborated the research.

Are young users more at risk from eating disorder content?

Researchers discovered that the average age within the pro-eating disorder social media community is 19. Additionally, one-third of those accounts with age information are from individuals under 18 (minors).

Instagram relies on users to self-declare that they’re at least 13, per the platform’s terms and conditions. But the platform does little to verify ages.

If you’re worried your child might be experiencing eating disorders because of problematic Instagram use, help is available. The National Eating Disorder Association offers resources at nationaleatingdisorders.org and at 1-800-931-2237.

Below are some signs of eating disorders that you can look out for.

Anorexia warning signs

Anorexia is a type of eating disorder in which people limit the type and amount of food they eat. They regulate food intake to lose weight, partly because they have a negative body image. The condition is typically accompanied by mental, physical and behavioral changes. Warning signs of anorexia include:

• Constant feelings of fatigue or cold
• Denial of the seriousness of low weight
• Dry skin, brittle nails and/or thinning hair
• Inability to properly assess body weight and shape
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Intentional vomiting
• Obsession with food, calories and dieting
• Poor concentration and focus
• Sudden changes to dietary preferences
• Skipped or irregular periods
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Bulimia warning signs

Bulimia is an eating disorder in which individuals regularly consume large food portions before taking steps to purge it. Like anorexia, people with bulimia have behavioral, mental and physical symptoms. Warning signs of bulimia may include:

• Dehydration
• Fainting
• Feelings of guilt or shame about eating
• Frequent visits to the bathroom, particularly after meals
• Gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and acid reflux
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Muscle weakness
• Preoccupation with body image
• Social withdrawal from friends and family

Binge-eating disorder warning signs

Binge-eating disorder involves consuming much more food than average and an inability to stop eating. Warning signs include:

• Eating quickly
• Eating apart from others
• Eating regardless of hunger or fullness
• Feelings of depression, shame, guilt, and disgust about eating
• Lack of control regarding overeating
• Overeating a lot within a specific timeframe

Help for self-harm and suicidal behavior

If you or a loved one are in crisis, national resources can help immediately.

• You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. This free and confidential call will connect you with a trained staff member. You can also visit their website: 988lifeline.org.
• You can contact the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) toll-free number at 1-800-931-2237. The association’s website can also direct you to resources at nationaleatingdisorders.org.

Yes, thousands of actions have been filed against social media companies for mental health harms. The lawsuits focus on problematic use of social media and its mental health effects, including eating disorders. Other mental health outcomes include anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide.

Many cases have been consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of California. Motley Rice member attorney Previn Warren is co-lead counsel for the social media harm litigation, MDL No. 3047. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is presiding over the MDL docket.

Individuals alleging that they or their children developed an eating disorder or had one worsen from using Instagram may file a suit.

Current state of social media mental health lawsuits

MDL No. 3047 in the Northern District of California is ongoing and still accepting new cases.

To learn more about the current state of social media litigation, visit our social media lawsuits page.

Motley Rice attorneys have worked for decades fighting for families and people. We have represented people dealing with tech companies and the harm they’ve caused.

Our law firm can help if you or your child developed an eating disorder or had one worsen because of Instagram use. We can assist you in filing a lawsuit for social media harm. Your well-being is important to our team.

Read more about our experience standing up to tech companies.