What Orlando Parents Should Know About Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

By Igor Hernandez, CHG Lawyers, Coral Gables, Florida

Parents in Orlando may have questions about social media addiction lawsuits. This guide explains the basics. These lawsuits include claims filed by families. They allege that certain social media platforms were designed to be addictive and harmed young users.

Below, you will find:

• What the allegations say
• What Florida law may mean
• Which records you may want to gather

Why Orlando Parents Are Looking Into Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

A parent may start asking this question after a change they cannot explain. Picture a walk around Lake Eola Park. Your teenager sleeps later. They pull away from friends and lose interest in sports. Phone use seems constant, and grades are slipping. Over several months, you start to wonder if social media played a part.

That question may lead parents to a legal term they may not know: social media addiction lawsuit. Put simply, these are lawsuits filed by families. They allege that social media platforms were designed to be addictive. They also allege that this design contributed to serious mental-health harm in young people.

These are allegations. The claims in these lawsuits are allegations, not proven facts. This page does not state that any company caused any child’s harm. Whether a claim exists for your child depends on your child’s records, the facts, and applicable Florida law.

What These Lawsuits Allege About Social Media and Young Users

As alleged in the master complaint filed in the federal multidistrict litigation In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3047, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California), the lawsuits claim that heavy use of certain platforms contributed to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide attempts in some young users. These are allegations, not findings of the court. The status of MDL No. 3047 can change over time, and the court’s public docket and master complaint are the official record of where the case stands; readers can review them directly through the court’s public records. These are the harms the complaints describe. They are not findings a court has made.

The master complaint in MDL No. 3047 also alleges that design features, including notifications, endless feeds, autoplay, and recommendations based on engagement, are part of the platforms’ design. These are allegations, not findings of the court. Read these as claims the lawsuits make, not as settled facts.

Research describes a link, not legal responsibility. The HHS Surgeon General report describes an observed association between heavy social media use and increased risks of depression, anxiety, and other problems. The CDC youth mental health resources provide general information on youth mental health.

If your child is in crisis, call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988) now.

Follow the care plan your child’s doctors set. This page does not give medical advice. Medical decisions belong with your child’s treating clinicians.

Who Can Bring a Social Media Addiction Claim in Florida

Who may bring a claim for a minor child depends on the facts of each case and on applicable Florida law. A parent or legal guardian may bring the claim on a minor’s behalf, depending on the facts and applicable Florida law.

The lawsuits described here allege claims against social media companies. The companies named can differ from one case to the next.

When a claim brought on behalf of a minor is settled, Florida Statutes §§ 744.301 and 744.387 may require court approval and, for settlements above amounts set in those statutes, the appointment of a guardian of the property or a guardian ad litem, depending on the facts, the size of the settlement and other applicable requirements and exceptions.

Whether a claim exists, and what it may involve, depends on the facts of your child’s situation, including medical and school records, account history, and the timing of symptoms, and on applicable Florida law. Whether a platform caused a given harm depends on the facts and medical records of each case.

Defendants may argue comparative fault. This means that fault may be divided among several parties, including the injured person. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, fault may be apportioned among the parties based on each party’s percentage of fault, subject to conditions and exceptions. For certain negligence actions filed after March 24, 2023, a plaintiff found more than 50% at fault may not recover; this rule does not apply to medical negligence actions. The statute also contains exclusions for certain intentional-tort situations. How it applies depends on the facts of each case.

Records Orlando Families May Want to Gather Early

Useful records show what changed, when it changed, and what care followed. Gathering them is a practical step. It should never delay care your child needs.

Helpful items may include:

• Medical and counseling records, including visit notes and diagnoses
• School communications, such as attendance reports, grade updates, and counselor emails
• Account and device history, such as which apps your child uses and when
• Messages or notes that show changes in sleep, mood, or friendships

Keep your own dated notes, written in your own words. Record what you saw and when. Avoid guessing at causes.

To have your family’s situation reviewed, contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers and Igor Hernandez; CHG charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery. The value of any record depends on the facts of the case. No record ensures a result.

Why Deadlines Matter in Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

Florida filing deadlines can be short. Families should contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers promptly instead of waiting.

Fla. Stat. § 95.11 sets time limits for filing many types of actions. Other periods, conditions, and exceptions may apply.

Under Fla. Stat. § 95.031, a cause of action generally accrues when the last element constituting it occurs. When that point occurs depends on the facts of each case.

Court proceedings in these cases change over time. The status of any case is a fact to review as of a specific date. News reports about settlements or rulings in other cases do not show what any family will receive. No one can say a family will be included in any settlement.

These cases may be referred to, or handled together with, another law firm. If that applies to your family, CHG will tell you so.

Fees and How CHG Approaches These Cases

A lawsuit’s value cannot be estimated from a general article. It depends on the child’s facts, records, and applicable Florida law.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida personal injury firm with its office in Coral Gables, Florida. It serves families throughout Florida, including the Orlando area. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer. He is admitted in Florida as a member of The Florida Bar.

The practice focuses on personal injury matters. These include mass-tort claims that may be referred to, or handled with, other firms.

Common Questions

How do I sue social media companies? A claim is filed in court on the child’s behalf. Whether one exists depends on the facts, the records, and Florida law.

How much is a social media addiction lawsuit worth? No general figure can answer that. Answering that question depends on the facts and records of your child’s situation. To have them reviewed, contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers and Igor Hernandez.

Talk With CHG Personal Injury Lawyers About Your Child’s Situation

If changes in your child’s mood, sleep, or school have you wondering about social media, you do not have to sort it out alone. Igor Hernandez and our team can review your family’s records. We can explain what Florida law may mean for your child.

You can contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers today. CHG charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery.