Harmful Effects of Social Media on Youth

Those suffering physical or mental harm from social media often have to shoulder treatment costs alone. Since addiction to social media is not yet recognized as a medical condition by health insurance carriers, affected individuals may have to pay out of their own pockets for any treatments required, such as psychological counseling. However, you could have options for recovering damages from a social media company.

Facebook Use Linked to Eating Disorders

A study by the University of Haifa has shown a link between the amount of time adolescent girls spend on Facebook and the chance of developing a negative body image and eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia.

Social Media Could Harm Adolescents’ Mental Health

According to the Mayo Clinic, social media use in adolescents is linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety. Children may be bullied or harassed on social media, leading to suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors. Families of teens who developed depression, suicidal thoughts, or other disorders from social media use could qualify for compensation.

Morgan & Morgan Can Help You Get Justice

We think it is unfair that families have to shoulder the financial burden of the harm caused by social media use. You should not have to pay for your damages, such as medical bills, income loss, and others, if a social media company is responsible. If your child experienced the following or other effects of social media use, we could help you receive compensation:

• Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating
• Self-harm or attempts to harm themselves
• Attempted suicide
• Body dysmorphia
• Mental health disorders
• Suicide

Our determined lawyers could hold unethical social media companies accountable for your child’s mental and physical injuries due to social media addiction. What’s more, holding powerful social media corporations such as Meta to account can affect real change. Lawsuits can result in changes to the social media platforms themselves, lowering the risk of harming teens and other vulnerable users in the future.

You could have a claim against a social media giant such as Meta, the owners of Facebook and Instagram, or others if you or your child suffered harm due to social media use. Claimants have filed various lawsuits against social media giants to date, including product liability claims and wrongful death lawsuits. Social media companies may be negligent and liable for your damages if they:

• Fail to safeguard children from harmful content
• Lack of parental control and monitoring features
• Fail to verify the identities and ages of users
• Do not protect minors from harmful content or sexual exploitation

Ultimately, the best way to determine whether you have a legal claim is to speak to a trusted and experienced attorney. Morgan & Morgan offers free consultations and can help you discover whether you qualify for compensation and could sue a social media platform.

A flood of recent lawsuits documents just how dangerous social media can be for our youth. Some recent examples include:

TikTok Challenge Deaths

The families of two girls who passed away due to partaking in a challenge on the TikTok social media platform have sued the company, claiming its algorithms are to blame for the deaths. The victims were just eight and nine years old when they took part in the deadly “blackout” challenge in 2021.

Eating Disorder Lawsuits

Several lawsuits have been filed by parents whose teenage children suffer from eating disorders allegedly caused by Facebook. In July 2022, two families filed suit against Meta in San Francisco’s federal court. The families say that their teenage girls became addicted to social media and subsequently developed depression and eating disorders. Both girls were hospitalized several times and tried to commit suicide.

Teen Suicide Due to Social Media Addiction

The family of a Wisconsin teenager who committed suicide in 2015 sued Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram in April 2022, alleging that their son’s death occurred due to his addiction to social media.

Unfortunately, there are countless other examples of recent lawsuits against social media platforms. If you think that you have a case, our compassionate attorneys can walk you through your options.

The compensation you could receive will depend on the facts of your case, your financial losses, and the extent and severity of the injury. For example, if your teenager suffered from an eating disorder due to social media use, you could be entitled to the following damages and others:

• Past and future medical costs
• Hospital stays
• Residential treatments
• Psychological counseling expenses
• Lost wages if you missed work to care for your child
• Awards for emotional distress

Since the worth of your case can be tricky to determine on your own, consider speaking to an experienced attorney who can calculate your present and future expected damages and assess the worth of your claim.

Our attorneys work tirelessly for the injured, fighting lawsuits to hold powerful corporations accountable. We could help you get what you deserve if your child experienced harm from social media. Our attorneys can:

• Determine your legal options and next best steps
• Help you navigate the legal process from start to finish
• Gather and review the relevant medical records and evidence
• File a lawsuit against a social media company
• Hire medical expert witnesses to testify on your behalf
• Represent you at court hearings
• Present your case in the strongest possible terms at trial

With America’s largest personal injury law firm in your corner, you do not have to worry about anything. We have the resources and tenacity to handle your claim from beginning to end. Our attorneys are experienced trial litigators who leave no stone unturned in getting the best possible outcome for clients. We would never settle for less than what you truly deserve. Our fee is free unless and until we win.

Every parent wants to keep their child away from harm. However, with social media so prevalent in our lives, supervising your child at all hours is practically impossible. Therefore, social media giants such as Meta and others must be called upon to protect our youth.
 
The harmful effects of social media on youth, such as mental disorders and suicidal ideation, could negatively affect young people for years. However, if your child is affected, you have the right to demand answers. At Morgan & Morgan, we do not shy away from standing up to powerful global corporations on your behalf. Contact us now to find out whether you qualify for compensation in a free case review.