Concerned About Your Child's Well-Being? Learn How Social Media Addiction Lawsuits Work

Social Media Addiction Lawsuit in Palm Beach County

A social media addiction lawsuit says that social media companies designed their apps in ways that harmed a young person’s mental health. Your child may have pulled away from family. Your child may struggle with anxiety or depression, or may have developed an eating disorder. You may wonder whether phone and app use is part of the picture.

This guide explains what these lawsuits allege. It also explains where Florida’s public cases stand and what a family can do next.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida personal injury firm. We serve families throughout Florida, including Palm Beach County. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page.

What a social media addiction lawsuit is, and who it may be for

A social media addiction lawsuit asks a court to hold app companies responsible. The lawsuit says their app design caused serious mental-health harm in young users.

Many parents notice a change at home first. A teen may sleep poorly or stop seeing friends. A teen may become anxious when the phone is taken away. Some families later face depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder. It is natural to ask whether the apps played a role.

These lawsuits are allegations. They are claims, not findings of fact. Whether any claim holds up depends on several things. These include the individual child’s history, medical and counseling records, and timeline of use.

A parent or guardian of a minor may consider a claim. An adult who was harmed as a young person may also have questions about their own case.

CHG handles personal injury matters of every severity. These range from car crashes and slip-and-falls to catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Some social media claims may be referred to another law firm, or handled together with one. Read more about mass-tort claims and referrals.

What the lawsuits allege about app design

The lawsuits allege that certain app features were built to keep young users engaged for long periods.

Plaintiffs (the people who file a lawsuit) point to several features. These include endless feeds, autoplay, push notifications, and algorithmic recommendations. They allege these tools pull a young user back again and again.

These are the plaintiffs’ claims. They are not findings of fact.

Research on youth use describes associations, not legal responsibility. The HHS youth social media report describes an observed link between heavy social media use and higher risks of depression and anxiety. It does not decide who is legally liable.

A peer pressure study of 830 participants found that peer pressure is associated with mobile social media addiction among adolescents.

Courts weigh evidence from both sides. For more detail, read our social media addiction lawsuit page.

Signs a teen may be struggling, and where to turn now

Changes in sleep, friendships, schoolwork, and mood can signal that a teen needs a closer look from a doctor. Parents often find it helpful to write down what they see, with dates, before the first appointment.

• Sleep that is much longer, much shorter, or constantly interrupted
• Pulling away from friends and family
• Falling grades or missed school
• Distress or irritability after using a phone or app
• Major shifts in eating, body image, or weight
• Talk of hopelessness

The CDC’s youth mental health resource describes how common poor mental health is among U.S. teens. Hillsborough County’s guidance describes signs of mental-health difficulty linked to social media and technology use.

Follow your child’s doctors and mental-health professionals for care. This guide does not offer medical advice.

If your child is in crisis or talks about suicide or self-harm, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988) right away. In an emergency, call 911.

Keeping notes on what you notice can help you describe changes before a doctor visit.

The State of Florida’s lawsuit against Meta: where things stand

As of October 2023, the Florida Attorney General’s Office announced that the State of Florida had filed a lawsuit against Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. This is a government case. The State brings it on behalf of the public, not on behalf of any one family.

• According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the State’s lawsuit alleges that Meta designed its platforms to be addictive and that they harm children’s mental health.

These are allegations. The status of a government case can change over time, so this page does not describe its current stage.

A family’s own claim is separate from the State’s lawsuit. Whether a family’s claim moves forward depends on the child’s facts. Deadlines also apply. Contact the firm promptly. Do not wait to see how the State’s case turns out.

Deadlines: why timing matters in Florida

Florida’s two-year deadline for negligence and wrongful death claims both appear in that statute. These deadlines are the reason prompt contact matters.

A claim generally starts when its last element occurs. For a teen’s claim, that date is not always the date the harm was first noticed. The facts need to be reviewed.

Under the tolling statute, a minor’s time is tolled (paused) only in listed circumstances. Under the tolling statute, a minor’s time may be paused in listed circumstances, such as when a parent or guardian does not exist, has an interest adverse to the minor, or has been adjudicated incapacitated to sue; in any event, the action must be begun within 7 years after the act, event, or occurrence giving rise to the cause of action.

The same statute says a disability or other reason does not toll a statute of limitations, except for the exceptions it specifies. Do not assume the deadline is paused.

How the process works, step by step

The process starts with a free, confidential initial consultation, with no obligation to continue.

1. Initial consultation. You describe your child’s situation. You decide what to do next.
2. Records review. With your consent, the firm reviews your child’s app-use timeline. It also reviews medical and counseling records, and school records.
3. Deadline check. The firm looks at when the claim accrued (began) and which deadlines may apply, as described above.
4. Who handles the matter. Some matters may stay with CHG, while others may be handled together with another firm or referred out. You will be told about any such arrangement before you decide.
5. Next steps. A matter may move toward settlement or a lawsuit. Under Florida’s comparative fault law, in a negligence action to which this section applies, a party found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover damages. Fla. Stat. § 768.81 reads: “This subsection does not apply to an action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence pursuant to chapter 766.” This rule does not apply in medical negligence cases.
6. Florida also requires a court to protect any amount awarded for a minor.

No outcome can be promised, and timelines vary.

Referrals and co-counsel: what to know

CHG does not serve as lead counsel in that proceeding. CHG does not always handle these cases alone. A matter may be referred to another law firm. It may also be handled together with one, which is called co-counsel. We will explain any such arrangement to you before you decide what to do.

Serving Florida families, including Palm Beach County

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based personal injury firm. It serves people throughout Florida, including families in Palm Beach County.

• Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page.
• The firm’s lawyers are licensed to practice in Florida and admitted to The Florida Bar.
• The firm handles personal injury matters of every severity. These range from everyday accidents to catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
• Families in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach can reach the firm the same way any other Florida family can.
• The firm publishes bilingual English and Spanish educational content. Spanish-speaking families can review their options in their own language.
• Our team explains each step in plain terms, so you know what to expect.

Frequently asked questions

Talk with CHG about your child’s situation

If your child’s struggles may be tied to phone and app use, you do not have to sort it out alone.

You may be reading late at night. You may be gathering screenshots, doctor notes, and school emails. You may be worrying about a child who did not choose any of this. Those records matter. A conversation can show what they may mean for your family.

Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential initial consultation, with no obligation to continue.