Families across the country are seeking compensation from the companies behind Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube for harm to children, teens and young adults. You do not need to check every box on this page before reaching out. Two things matter most.
- The harm started young. Heavy social media use began before age 18, and the person is now 25 or younger.
- A professional got involved. A doctor, therapist, counselor or other health care provider diagnosed or treated a mental health problem, such as depression, anxiety, an eating disorder or self-harm.
If both are true for your child, or for you as a young adult, fill out the short form. You pay nothing unless there is a recovery.
Why Treatment Matters
Many parents worry that their kids spend too much time on their phones. That alone is not a claim. These claims are about injuries: a young person who became hooked on the apps and then developed a mental health condition serious enough that someone outside the family stepped in to help.
Treatment can mean many things. It may have been a visit to a pediatrician or family doctor, therapy or counseling, a psychiatrist or psychologist, a trip to the emergency room, a hospital stay, or an eating disorder or residential program. Medical and counseling records are how a claim shows what happened. If your child was diagnosed recently and you plan to get treatment, you can still reach out.
What Makes a Claim Stronger
These are not requirements. They are details that tend to make a claim stronger, and most families will not have all of them.
- Heavy daily use, typically three or more hours a day on average
- An early start, such as a child who began using the apps in elementary or middle school
- A serious diagnosis, such as depression or severe anxiety, an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt
- More intensive treatment, such as a hospital stay, a residential or eating disorder program, or months of therapy or medication
- A clear connection in time, such as symptoms that began or worsened as use of the apps increased
The apps named in these lawsuits are Instagram and Facebook (Meta), TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. Many young people used more than one.
Families Who Lost a Child
A family who lost a child to suicide may have a wrongful death claim if the child was 21 or younger at the time of death and social media use is believed to have played a role.
Injuries from viral TikTok challenges are also considered for young people who are now 21 or younger, and wrongful death claims are considered for children who died at 21 or younger attempting a challenge.
Who These Claims Are Not For
These claims are for children, teens and young adults whose problems began before age 18. They are not for adults whose heavy social media use began in adulthood. They are also not for heavy use alone, where no diagnosis was made and no one outside the family was ever involved.
If your child is struggling and has not seen anyone yet, getting help comes first. A pediatrician or family doctor is a good place to start.
If you or your child is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Getting Started
The form asks only for your name and contact information, with room to describe what happened if you want to. You do not need medical records or a diagnosis letter to fill it out. A parent or guardian should submit the form for anyone under 18.
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.
Common Questions
Does my child have to meet every item on this page?
No. What matters most is that the problems began before age 18 and that a doctor, therapist, counselor or other provider diagnosed or treated them. Everything else adds strength to a claim but is not required to reach out.
What counts as treatment?
A visit to a doctor, pediatrician, therapist, counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist about a mental health problem counts, as do emergency room visits, hospital stays and treatment programs. Medication prescribed for depression, anxiety or an eating disorder is also treatment.
My child is now an adult. Can they still qualify?
Yes, if the heavy use and the problems began before age 18 and they are now 25 or younger. Many people bringing these claims are in their late teens or early twenties.
My child used the apps constantly but never saw anyone. Is there a claim?
Usually not yet. These claims are about diagnosed injuries. If you are concerned about your child, start with your pediatrician or family doctor.
Do the medical records have to mention social media?
No. Many records focus on the condition itself. Screen time, app history and the timing of the symptoms help show the connection.
Who should fill out the form?
A parent or guardian for anyone under 18. Young adults 18 to 25 can fill it out themselves.
What does it cost?
Nothing up front. You pay nothing unless there is a recovery.