Families across the country are filing claims against the companies behind Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging the apps were built to keep children scrolling for hours and that years of heavy use caused or worsened depression and anxiety. If your child was diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder after heavy social media use that started before age 18, your family may be able to seek compensation.
What the Lawsuits Claim
The lawsuits say the companies designed their apps to capture as much of a young person’s time and attention as possible, knowing that children and teens are especially vulnerable to that pull. According to the claims, the result for many kids was compulsive use, lost sleep, constant comparison with others and a slide into depression and anxiety. The companies allegedly knew this from their own research and did not warn families.
The features at the center of the claims include:
- Endless feeds and autoplay that the lawsuits say remove natural stopping points, so a few minutes turns into hours.
- Notifications at all hours that pull kids back to their phones, including late at night and during school.
- Likes, comments and follower counts that the lawsuits say turn friendships into a public scoreboard and fuel constant comparison.
- Streaks and rewards such as Snapchat’s Snapstreaks, which the lawsuits say pressure kids to log in every day.
- Weak age checks, parental controls and time limits that the lawsuits say let young children onto the apps and left parents unable to step in.
What the Companies Knew
Much of the evidence comes from the companies’ own files. Internal Instagram research disclosed in 2021 by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen and reported by The Wall Street Journal included a slide stating that teens blamed Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression, and that this reaction was unprompted and consistent across all groups. The same research found that among teens who reported suicidal thoughts, 6 percent of American users traced them to Instagram.
In November 2025, Reuters reported on court filings describing an internal Meta study, run with the research firm Nielsen, in which people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness and social comparison. According to the filings, Meta stopped the research instead of continuing it. Meta says the study was halted because its methods were flawed.
TikTok faces similar claims. Internal documents made public in a Kentucky case in 2024 showed TikTok’s own research linking compulsive use to negative mental health effects, including increased anxiety, and noting that it interferes with sleep. The same documents said a screen time tool TikTok promoted to parents cut teens’ daily use by only about a minute and a half.
Court filings also describe Snap executives acknowledging that users with a Snapchat addiction “have no room for anything else.” For more on Meta’s records, see Meta internal documents.
What Health Officials and Researchers Say
In a 2023 advisory, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that children and teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Up to 95 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 use social media, and more than a third say they use it almost constantly.
CDC surveys of high school students show the share of girls reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness rose from 39 percent in 2013 to 57 percent in 2021. In a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, 45 percent of teens said social media hurts their sleep.
Depression and Anxiety in These Claims
Claims have been brought for a range of diagnosed conditions, including:
- Major depression and other depressive disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety and panic disorder
- Severe sleep problems tied to compulsive use
Depression and anxiety often come with other injuries the lawsuits claim, such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Those can be part of the same claim.
Where the Cases Stand
The first social media addiction case to reach a jury involved a young woman who began using YouTube at 6 and Instagram at 9 and was later treated for depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia. Her therapist testified that social media was a contributing factor. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent and awarded her $6 million. Meta has appealed, and YouTube has said it will appeal.
A second trial, brought by a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old who allege their social media use led to depression, anxiety and eating disorders, began with jury selection on October 28, 2026. More than 3,800 cases are pending in the federal proceeding in Oakland, and more than 3,000 are coordinated in Los Angeles. No global settlement for families has been announced, and new claims are still being filed. See Meta trials for the full calendar.
Warning Signs Parents Notice
Many families tell a similar story. A child who used to be outgoing becomes withdrawn, stays up late on a phone, loses interest in friends and activities, gets anxious or angry when the phone is taken away, and seems constantly upset by what happens online. If that sounds familiar and your child has been diagnosed and treated, it is worth finding out whether you have a claim.
Who May Have a Claim
The strongest claims usually involve a young person who:
- Began heavy use of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube before age 18, often several hours a day
- Is now 25 or younger
- Was diagnosed with depression or severe anxiety by a doctor or counselor
- Received medical or counseling treatment, or is starting treatment now
You do not need to have every record in hand to start.
Compensation
A claim can seek compensation for medical, counseling and treatment costs, past and future, along with pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Every claim is different, and the value depends on the diagnosis, the treatment and how the illness has affected your child’s life.
Getting Started
Doyle APC handles social media addiction claims together with experienced co-counsel, for families nationwide. The case review is free, and you pay nothing unless there is a recovery.
If you or your child is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Common Questions
Can I file a claim against social media for my child’s depression or anxiety?
Families across the country have filed claims against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube alleging their apps caused or worsened depression and anxiety in children and teens. Whether your child has a claim depends on when the heavy use started, the diagnosis and the treatment. The free case review is the way to find out.
Does depression or anxiety alone count, without self-harm or an eating disorder?
Depression and anxiety are each listed as injuries on the standard claim form used in the federal cases. Claims that also involve self-harm, suicidal thoughts or an eating disorder are often considered stronger, but a diagnosed and treated depression or anxiety disorder can be the basis of a claim.
Is there a class action for social media depression?
No. Each family files its own claim. The claims are grouped in federal court in Oakland and in California state court in Los Angeles so they can share evidence and test trials, but each claim is valued on its own facts.
Has anyone won a case like this?
Yes. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in the case of a young woman who said heavy use beginning in childhood contributed to her depression and anxiety, and awarded $6 million. Meta has appealed, and YouTube has said it will appeal.
Do the medical records have to mention social media?
Not necessarily. Many counseling and treatment records focus on the symptoms themselves. Screen time, app history and when the problems began also help show the connection.
My child is now an adult. Is it too late?
Not always. Many people bringing these claims are now in their late teens or early twenties, because the harm began when they were younger. Deadlines vary by state and often depend on age and when the condition was diagnosed, so it is worth asking soon.
Did Meta’s settlement with the states pay families?
No. Meta’s August 2026 settlement with state attorneys general pays the states and changes how teens use its apps. It does not compensate any family. Families must file their own claims.
What does it cost?
Nothing up front. You pay nothing unless there is a recovery.