Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to Common Questions from Families Affected by Social Media Addiction
Q: What happens if I file a claim against a social media company?
A: Filing a claim means taking legal action against social media companies.
By filing a lawsuit, your family can seek accountability and money compensation for harm caused. Your lawsuit will allege that these companies knowingly designed their apps to be addictive and harmful to children’s and teens’ mental health.
Your case joins a nationwide legal effort with hundreds of families, schools, cities, and states working together to protect children and hold social media companies accountable.
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Q: Why should I sign up with Gibbs Mura’s Social Media Addiction Lawyers?
A: Our firm represents over 400 families across the country in social media addiction lawsuits and is directly involved in the federal cases.
Our trauma-informed social media addiction lawyers understand parents’ concerns and are committed to helping you protect your children while guiding you through the legal process.
When social media companies tried to get these lawsuits dismissed, claiming they couldn’t be held responsible, our firm was part of the team that fought back and won. Judges at both the federal and state levels agreed, allowing the cases to move forward.
These legal wins have been covered by BBC, Bloomberg Law, Reuters, The Verge, and more.
Q: Who is eligible to file a claim in the social media addiction cases?
A: You may be eligible for our team to represent you in a social media addiction lawsuit if you
Used social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Youtube, or Snapchat as a child or teen.
Experienced mental health struggles as a child or teen.
Have spoken to a professional or sought treatment related to mental health such as, but not limited to:
Therapy
School counseling
Hospitalization
In-patient treatment
Discussions with a pediatrician or other primary care doctor
Q: Is there an age limit to qualify for a social media addiction lawsuit?
A: Our legal team primarily pursues cases on behalf of children, teens, and young adults who started using social media before they turned 18.
If you aren’t sure if you qualify, we are happy to talk with you to determine whether you qualify for a social media addiction lawsuit.
Q: What happened in the first social media addiction trial?
A: In March 2026, a landmark verdict was reached in the first social media addiction trial. A Los Angeles jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for negligence and failure to warn, awarding the plaintiff $6 million.
The plaintiff, a young woman identified as K.G.M., sued Meta and YouTube and alleged that the companies negligently designed their platforms and failed to warn her about the risks, resulting in mental health injuries.
Additional Social Media Addiction FAQs From Families Like Yours
Q: What are the social media addiction lawsuits about?
A: Our legal team is filing lawsuits against social media companies for allegedly creating addictive and harmful features in their apps and concealing the known mental health risks to youth.
Q: What are signs of social media addiction?
A: Signs of social media addiction include:
Spending excessive time on social media
Feeling anxious or irritable when unable to access social media
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like restlessness or mood swings
Neglecting schoolwork, hobbies, or social interactions in favor of social media
Q: How does social media addiction impact mental health?
A: Social media addiction can harm mental health according to scientific literature, including:
Increased anxiety and depression
Low self-esteem and body image issues
Disrupted sleep pattern
Suicidal thoughts and ideation
Do I need a formal diagnosis to join the social media addiction cases?
A: No, a formal mental health diagnosis is not required. However, our team focuses on representing those who have spoken with a professional or sought treatment related to mental health. This may include, but is not limited to:
Therapy
School counseling
Hospitalization
In-patient treatment
Discussions with a pediatrician or other primary care doctor
Can adults file social media addiction lawsuits, or are they only for minors?
A: While these social media addiction lawsuits focus on children and teens, young adults may be eligible.
If you are a young adult who has struggled with social media addiction, please contact us. We can help you determine if you qualify for a case against these companies.
Can I bring a case if I used multiple apps at the same time?
A: Yes. In fact, many of our current clients used multiple platforms. We typically pursue claims against:
TikTok
Instagram
Snapchat
YouTube
Facebook
Can I sue if I only used one social media app?
A: Yes. You don’t need to use multiple platforms to have a case. If one app caused you harm, you may be able to take legal action against that company.
Can I pursue a lawsuit for regaining access to deactivated social media accounts?
A: Our lawsuits focus specifically on how the design and features of social media platforms, like “infinite scrolling,” can harm the mental health of children and teens.
We do not handle cases involving regaining access to deactivated accounts. If you are seeking legal representation for these issues, we recommend that you contact a different law firm as soon as possible as the passage of time can impact your ability to pursue a claim.
Can I pursue a social media lawsuit for predator contact or grooming?
A: If you or your child were contacted by a predator on a social media platform like TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat, or experienced grooming or other sexual exploitation, you may have a claim. Please contact our team to discuss.
If you or your child experienced grooming or other sexual exploitation on Roblox or Discord, please reach out here.
Q:How much does it cost to file a social media addiction lawsuit?
A: As the client, you do not pay any money out of pocket to file a social media addiction lawsuit. Our fees come out of any settlement you receive at the end of the case. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
Q: Is your social media addiction lawsuit a class action case?
A: No. This is not a class action lawsuit. Each family’s experience is different, which means each case must be evaluated and litigated individually. By maintaining individual claims, families will get to:
tell their own stories
seek compensation that reflects each family’s unique harm
Q: Is there a time limit to join the social media addiction lawsuits?
A: Yes. Every state has different rules (also known as the statute of limitations) that dictate the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit. These deadlines vary by state, age, type of claim, and other individual factors.
Waiting too long could prevent your family from holding social media companies accountable. If you believe your child was harmed, it is important to begin the process of filing a lawsuit as soon as possible. Reach out to our team today.
Q: How long can I expect this case to take?
A: While large lawsuits against major social media corporations take time, this process is necessary to pursue meaningful accountability and compensation.
Our attorneys will support you every step of the way.
Q: What can I expect as a client?
A: As our client, you can expect:
Clear communication and updates on lawsuit developments
A dedicated and experienced legal team handling lawsuit deadlines and requirements
Guidance on acquiring documents or information that may help your case
Trauma-informed team that has worked with over 400 families nationwide on social media addiction lawsuits
Q: What is the difference between bellwether cases and your lawsuit?
A: Bellwether cases are test trials selected by the court. While your case likely will not become a bellwether, our team use their outcomes to guide our strategy and strengthen your case.
Q: Do verdicts in bellwether social media addiction trials apply to everyone?
A: No, a bellwether verdict applies only to the family whose case was tried. However, verdicts in bellwether social media addiction court cases often help the parties understand:
The key legal theories and evidence in all cases;
What jurors find important; and
What case resolution could look like for other families.
A bellwether verdict is a sign of progress and can influence how companies handle similar cases, like yours.
On March 25, 2026, a jury awarded $6 million to a young woman who alleged being harmed by social media platforms, including Meta and YouTube, in the first bellwether social media addiction trial for individual claims.
Q: Has Gibbs Mura settled similar cases?
A: The social media addiction lawsuits are landmark cases that allege certain platforms are designed to be addictive and harmful. The legal arguments used in these cases are new and therefore are difficult to compare to other cases.
While the social media addiction cases are unique, the firm has handled many other types of mass actions, including recovering over $1.5 billion on behalf of over 6,000 families who lost their homes and belongings in utility-caused wildfires and explosions in California. We also represent families whose children fell victim to Roblox’s illegal casino websites and have an ongoing lawsuit against Meta for their pixel tracking tool.
Steve litigates a wide range of complex cases, from environmental mass torts to consumer class actions. He has secured over $1 billion for his clients.
Angela represents plaintiffs in class actions and mass torts concerning consumer protection and products liability.
Amelia Ravitz-Dworkin
Amelia plays a crucial role on case teams representing survivors of sexual assault and parents whose children have suffered from social media addiction.
Belize Combs
Belize assists the social media addiction lawsuit teams and supports investigations into potential improper overdraft bank fee practices.
Dennis Higgs
Dennis works to help everyday people fight for their legal rights, in addition to helping oversee the day-to-day operations of the firm.
Jason Gibbs
Jason guides clients and potential clients through all stages of the litigation process, from intake to settlement.
Hanne represents consumers in class action and complex litigation, with particular focuses on unfair business practices, products liability, constitutional issues, and privacy law.
