Major Lawsuits Target Social Media Companies For Hooking Children On Their Platforms
A landmark trial began in California this week, putting social media companies under scrutiny as families allege platforms are intentionally designed to addict children, causing harm to their mental health. This trial, set to be the first of many, centers on whether social media platforms bear responsibility for the growing crisis of adolescent social media addiction.
The lawsuit names companies like Instagram and Facebook, and its parent company Meta, as well as Google’s YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. While Meta and Google are continuing to fight the claims in court, TikTok and Snapchat have already reached settlements.
Opening arguments in Los Angeles focused on claims that platforms exploit children’s developing brains with features engineered to maximize their engagement. Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford psychiatrist, testified that features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and algorithm-driven recommendations are designed to be habit-forming and to foster compulsive use.
Platform leaders countered that their services are not clinically addictive, noting that parental controls and safety tools are widely available. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified that social media does not fit the clinical definition of addiction, a point still debated in the addiction field and the central argument for the trials that follow.
Is Excessive Social Media Use A Behavioral Addiction?
A 2024 article published in Cureus found that social media addiction is marked by excessive, compulsive use, including cravings and withdrawal-like symptoms, which interfere with daily life. The authors concluded these characteristics resemble those of gambling disorder, since both involve similar neurological reward pathways related to dopamine.
Behavioral addictions center around repetitive behaviors that activate the brain’s reward system. Experts in the trial testified that features used in social media platforms, like receiving likes and notifications, may serve as unpredictable rewards and could reinforce habitual use in ways that are similar to gambling mechanics.
The debate continues over whether social media addiction meets psychiatric diagnostic criteria, with some experts arguing that calling these platforms addictive oversimplifies a complex behavioral issue.
Social Media’s Effects On Adolescents
At the heart of the trial is a broader debate about how social media affects young users. Research from Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that compulsive social media use, not just total time spent online, was more closely linked to mental health challenges among youth. Adolescents with uncontrollable social media habits reported greater anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, with young girls especially affected by negative social comparisons and body image concerns stemming from exposure to idealized images.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that these findings highlight the risks posed by platforms’ engagement-driven designs. They claim that adolescents are especially vulnerable because their brains are still developing, particularly in areas related to impulse control and reward processing.
In turn, defense attorneys counter that social media can offer positive connections, opportunities for self-expression, and community, especially for marginalized youth. They maintain that broader societal factors contribute to rising rates of adolescent mental health issues and that there is not enough evidence to pin the full range of negative outcomes on social media use.
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Researchers emphasize that it is not simply hours spent online, but the compulsive, uncontrollable pattern of use that is most closely linked to mental health concerns regarding social media.
As debates continue in court, clinicians have pinpointed several warning signs that can indicate problematic or addictive social media use among adolescents. Signs of social media addiction include:
Preoccupation: Constantly thinking about social media and feeling a strong urge to check platforms. Loss of control: Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back use. Tolerance: Needing to spend increasing amounts of time to achieve the same level of satisfaction. Withdrawal-like symptoms: Irritability, anxiety, or mood changes when unable to use social media. Sleep disruption: Staying up late or waking up to check social media. Neglect of responsibilities: Declining school performance or reduced participation in offline activities.
Forms of social media addiction encompass many platforms and include:
Get Help For Social Media Addiction
As the trial moves forward, the broader conversation about youth mental health continues. If social media use has become compulsive or harmful, help is available. Treatment for social media addiction may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, and counseling focused on building healthier habits and coping skills.
Experts say early intervention can make a significant difference, and clinicians emphasize that support, education, and therapy remain critical tools for individuals struggling with social media addiction. If you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, explore your online therapy options today.