Families across the country are filing claims against the companies behind Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging the apps were designed to keep children scrolling and pushed them toward content that fed anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and body image disorders. If your child developed an eating disorder after years of heavy social media use, your family may be able to seek compensation.
What the Lawsuits Claim
The lawsuits say the companies built their apps to hold the attention of children and teens, and that the same features that kept kids on the apps exposed them to a steady stream of images and videos about bodies, weight and appearance. According to the claims, the companies knew from their own research that this was hurting young users, especially girls, and did not warn families.
The features at the center of the eating disorder claims include:
- Recommendation algorithms that allegedly learn what a teen lingers on and serve more of it, so a few diet or body videos can turn into a feed full of them.
- Appearance-altering filters that smooth skin, slim faces and reshape bodies, which the lawsuits link to body dissatisfaction and body dysmorphia.
- Likes, comments and follower counts that the lawsuits say turn appearance into a public score and fuel constant comparison.
- Infinite scroll, autoplay and notifications that remove natural stopping points and pull kids back in, including late at night.
- Weak age checks and parental controls that the lawsuits say let young children onto the apps and made it hard for parents to step in.
What the Companies Knew
Much of the evidence comes from the companies’ own files. In 2021, documents disclosed by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen and reported by The Wall Street Journal included a 2019 Instagram slide stating that the app makes body image issues worse for one in three teen girls. Another internal study found that 32 percent of teen girls said Instagram made them feel worse when they already felt bad about their bodies.
A multistate lawsuit filed by state attorneys general in 2023 alleged that Mark Zuckerberg overruled a proposal to ban filters that mimic plastic surgery, after outside experts warned of the risks of body dysmorphia and eating disorders in teen girls. At the first trial in 2026, Zuckerberg testified that a full ban would have been paternalistic.
In October 2025, Reuters reported on a later internal Meta study of more than 1,100 teens. Teens who often felt bad about their bodies after using Instagram were shown about three times as much body-focused or eating disorder adjacent content as other teens, and Meta’s screening tools could not detect 98.5 percent of the sensitive content the company considered possibly inappropriate for teens. Meta’s researchers said the study did not prove Instagram caused the problem.
TikTok faces similar claims. Internal documents made public in a Kentucky case in 2024 showed TikTok staff discussing the effects of its beauty filters and suggesting the filters be labeled, which never happened.
For more on Meta’s records, see Meta internal documents.
What Health Officials Say
In a 2023 advisory, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that social media may contribute to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, especially among adolescent girls, and noted that 46 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 said social media makes them feel worse about their bodies. The CDC reported that the share of emergency room visits for eating disorders among girls ages 12 to 17 roughly doubled in 2021 compared with 2019.
Eating Disorders in These Claims
Claims have been brought for a range of diagnosed conditions, including:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge eating disorder
- Other diagnosed eating or feeding disorders
- Body dysmorphia and other body image disorders
Many young people with eating disorders also struggle with depression, anxiety or self-harm. Those injuries 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 claimed Instagram’s beauty filters contributed to her body dysmorphia. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent and awarded her $6 million. Both companies are appealing. A second trial, brought by two teenage girls 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.
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 an eating disorder or body image disorder
- Received medical or counseling treatment, or is starting treatment now
Families who lost a child may also have a claim. You do not need to have every record in hand to start.
Compensation
A claim can seek compensation for medical, counseling and treatment program 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. For eating disorder support, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders offers a free weekday helpline staffed by licensed therapists.
Common Questions
Can I file a claim against Instagram or TikTok for my child’s eating disorder?
Families across the country have filed claims against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube alleging their apps caused or worsened eating disorders. 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.
Is there a class action for social media eating disorders?
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.
Does body dysmorphia count?
Yes. Body dysmorphia and other body image disorders are among the injuries the lawsuits claim, including the injuries in the first case to reach a jury.
Do the medical records have to mention social media?
Not necessarily. Many treatment records focus on the eating disorder itself. Screen time, app history and the timing of the illness 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 injury was diagnosed, so it is worth asking soon.
Does my child have to stop using social media to make a claim?
No. Families are not required to delete accounts to bring a claim. Do not delete accounts or posts, though, since they can be useful evidence.
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.