Instagram® Lawsuit | Instagram Lawyer, Attorney

A growing number of lawsuits blame Instagram for teen suicides and mental health issues.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Instagram induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you believe Instagram is responsible for your child’s suicide, depression, or eating disorder, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Instagram Eating Disorder Lawsuit Filed for 11-Year-Old Girl With Anorexia

In June 2022, Meta Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was hit by an Instagram eating disorder lawsuit in California.

The lawsuit was filed by the parents of Alexis S., a girl who was just 11 years old when she signed up for Instagram. According to the lawsuit, she quickly became obsessed and addicted to harmful content on Instagram that promoted eating disorders and a negative body image.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California — Case number 3:22-cv-03294.

Social Media Risks for Teens

Social media is a big deal for teenagers. In the U.S., nearly all teenagers have used at least one social media platform, such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Snapchat. Using social media can have positive aspects, like staying connected or expressing yourself — but it can also have serious, life-threatening mental health risks.

For example, teenagers can be exposed to dangerous people like cyberbullies or pedophiles. They may view inappropriate content relating to sex, drugs, or violence. Teenagers may overshare personal information, sexually explicit photos, or highly personal stories. They may also write stupid things online that damage their reputation later.

What is the Problem?

Teenagers who use social media may be at risk for:

Suicide
Suicide Ideation / Attempts
Severe Depression
Certain emotional disorders (anxiety, low self-esteem, etc.)
Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, etc.)
And more

Does Too Much Social Media Cause Depression?

Social media has been linked to a rise in mental health issues among teens and young adults, according to a new survey.

In March 2019, a study published by the American Psychological Association discovered that mental health issues have risen significantly over the last decade — and social media may be why.

There were sharp increases in the number of young adults born after 1995 who had negative psychological symptoms. The greatest spike in symptoms occurred in 2011, when social media burst on the scene.

Lead author Jean Twenge said:

“We found a substantial increase in major depression or suicidal thoughts, psychological distress, and more attempted suicides after 2010, versus the mid-2000s, and that increase was by far the largest in adolescents and young adults.”

Teen Suicide Lawsuit Filed Against Instagram, Snapchat

In January 2022, the mother of a teenage girl who killed herself filed a lawsuit accusing Meta and Snap, the social media companies behind Snapchat and Instagram, of causing her mental health problems.

The lawsuit was filed by Tammy R., the mother of an 11-year-old girl named Selena who “struggled for more than two years with an extreme addiction to Instagram and Snapchat.” Selena suffered from depression, sleep deprivation, eating disorders, self-harming behaviors, and school absences, which led to her suicide in July 2021.

Another Mom Blames Social Media for Teen’s Mental Health Problems

In January 2022, a mother from Oregon filed a lawsuit blaming Snapchat for her teen daughter’s mental health problems. The girl, identified only as M.K., developed problems with her academic performance “due to her obsessive social media use.” When her mother tried to take away or restrict M.K.’s phone, the girl ran away from home to gain access to her social media accounts.

Snapchat Hit With Lawsuit After Bullied Teen Boy Commits Suicide

In May 2021, a lawsuit was filed by the mother of a 16 year-old boy who killed himself after he was bullied on the Snapchat-integrated messaging apps YOLO and LMK. According to the lawsuit, he received numerous humiliating and sexually explicit messages. “YOLO and LMK lack adequate safeguards to prevent teen users from being victimized by harassment, sexually explicit materials, and other harm,” the lawsuit claims. Snap suspended the apps soon after the lawsuit was filed.

State AGs Investigate Effects of Social Media on Teenagers

A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general are investigating the effects of social media on children. They are specifically investigation whether Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, violated consumer protection laws by promoting the app to children and teens.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said:

“Facebook, now Meta, has failed to protect young people on its platforms and instead chose to ignore or, in some cases, double down on known manipulations that pose a real threat to physical and mental health – exploiting children in the interest of profit.”

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Instagram Lawsuit