[2024 Guide] Potential Damages in Social Media Lawsuits

Overview of the Social Media Lawsuits

The surge in social media lawsuits highlights the mounting evidence suggesting a link between the excessive use of these platforms and a range of mental health issues.

The claims highlight the adverse effects on teens and young users, emphasizing how this constant digital interaction can contribute to the development of mental health problems, eating disorders, and other forms of harm.

Adolescent addiction to social media platforms has become a topic of increasing concern.

The lawsuits assert that social media companies have a duty to protect their users from these potential harms, especially the vulnerable and impressionable young population.

Plaintiffs aim to hold the companies behind these platforms accountable for related injuries, diagnoses, and damages.

The lawsuit also wants to ensure that the defendants — once proven liable — can create policies and protocols that help reduce their platforms’ negative effects on social media users.

Potential Damages in Social Media Lawsuits

The concept of damages is important to understand for those interesting in filing social media lawsuits.

Damages represent the legal compensation sought by plaintiffs to address the physical, emotional, and financial toll they have endured due to the harmful effects of unrestricted social media use.

These damages can be classified into two main categories:

1. Economic damages: tangible financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages.
2. Non-economic damages: non-tangible injuries like pain and suffering as well as emotional distress.

An experienced lawyer will help you assess and calculate the total damages in your claim, taking into account medical treatments, pain and suffering, and other costs associated with your child’s social media addiction and subsequent mental health suffering.

Economic Damages

Economic damages refer to monetary costs associated with a defective product’s impact on the plaintiff’s health and life.

Potential economic damages in social media addiction lawsuits may include:

• Medical Treatments: Excessive social media use has been linked to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Plaintiffs may seek compensation for medical expenses related to diagnosis, treatment, and medication for these issues. These costs can include:
  • Doctor visits
  • Counseling sessions
  • Prescription medications
  • Other necessary medical interventions
• Lost Wages: The harm caused by excessive social media use can lead to missed work days, reduced productivity, and even long-term incapacity to work. Plaintiffs may be entitled to compensation for income lost due to time taken off work for medical treatment, therapy, and recovery. This includes both past and future lost wages.
• Ongoing Therapy and Future Treatments: Some injuries — particularly those related to mental health — may require ongoing therapy and treatment to manage and alleviate symptoms. Plaintiffs can seek damages to cover the costs of ongoing therapy sessions, psychiatric treatment, and other necessary medical interventions required for their continued well-being.
• Death Benefits: In tragic cases where excessive social media use has resulted in the death of a loved one due to mental health-related causes, families may be entitled to death benefits. The compensation can help alleviate financial burdens resulting from the loss and provide some level of financial stability during a challenging time.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages refer to other costs associated with social media addiction and mental health effects that are not as easily calculated.

An experienced lawyer can help you determine, assess, and calculate applicable non-economic damages.

Non-economic damages in social media addiction lawsuit may include:

• Pain and Suffering: Social media addiction can cause significant emotional distress, leading to pain and suffering that extends beyond physical injuries. Plaintiffs may seek compensation for the emotional anguish, trauma, and mental distress they have endured as a result of the harm caused by social media platforms.
• Emotional Damage: The toll of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues caused by uncontrolled social media use can impact an individual’s overall well-being and quality of life. Compensation for emotional damages can help address the psychological impact of these conditions, providing financial relief for the internal turmoil experienced.
• Loss of Quality of Life: Excessive social media use can lead to a diminished quality of life, impacting an individual’s ability to enjoy daily activities, engage in relationships, and pursue hobbies. Compensation for loss of quality of life aims to acknowledge the negative impact on an individual’s overall well-being and help them regain a sense of normalcy and fulfillment.

Defendants in Social Media Mental Health Lawsuits

As the impact of excessive social media use on mental health becomes more apparent, the focus has turned to the platforms that wield substantial influence over users’ thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.

Several prominent social media apps and companies have found themselves facing legal action as defendants in these cases.

Meta (Facebook and Instagram)

Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — is one of the largest and most influential social media platforms globally.

With billions of social media accounts in both Instagram and Facebook, this conglomerate has significantly shaped the way people interact and share information online.

However, concerns have been raised about the platform’s role in fostering negative mental health outcomes, particularly among young users.

Lawsuits against Meta assert that the company’s algorithms and features contribute to the proliferation of harmful content and unrealistic beauty standards, which can exacerbate mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia.

ByteDance (Owner of TikTok)

TikTok, a popular short-form video platform, has captured the attention of millions of users, especially among the younger demographic.

According to the Pew Research Center, this platform has the highest number of teen users in 2022.

However, its addictive nature and emphasis on appearance and popularity metrics can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Lawsuits against TikTok contend that the platform’s design and content algorithms prioritize engagement over user well-being.

These features encourage negative social media habits that potentially lead to mental health struggles and negative self-comparisons.

YouTube LLC and Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)

YouTube — a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. — has revolutionized the way people consume video content.

However, concerns have been raised about the platform’s role in promoting harmful and sensationalist content that can negatively impact users’ mental health.

Cases against YouTube and Google highlight the responsibility of these companies to curate content responsibly and protect users  — especially young and impressionable individuals — from potentially damaging material.

Snap Inc. (Snapchat)

Snapchat is known for its photo and video sharing.

However, the platform has also faced scrutiny for its potential impact on mental health.

Features such as disappearing messages and streaks can create a constant need for validation and contribute to feelings of anxiety and social pressure.

Those who are filing cases against Snap Inc. argue that the platform’s design and features may contribute to mental health issues like self harm and depression.

These effects are particularly seen among young adults, the apps’ primary user base.

Social Media Addiction: Related Injuries and Diagnoses

Constant social media usage has been linked to a range of mental and emotional injuries that can significantly impact the well-being of young individuals.

Injuries that young people can suffer due to the negative effects of prolonged use of a social media platform may include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Body dysmorphia
• Suicidal ideation
• Eating disorders
• Other mental illness

Depression

Constant exposure to curated and idealized versions of others’ lives on social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

The perpetual cycle of comparison can contribute to depressive thoughts and emotions, making young users susceptible to developing depression when using a social media site.

This observation has been backed by studies, with many experts agreeing that the link is apparent.

Anxiety Disorders

The pressure to maintain an impressive online presence, coupled with the fear of missing out (FOMO), can contribute to heightened anxiety levels among young individuals.

The continuous need to be “liked” or acknowledged can also exacerbate feelings of social anxiety and create a sense of constant scrutiny.

As these feelings increase, a person can develop various anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Body Dysmorphia

Social media platforms often perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards and promote pictures that are heavily edited or filtered.

Young users may distorted perceptions of their own bodies, leading to body dysmorphia and an unhealthy preoccupation with appearance.

Instagram and other social media platforms that focus on images are particularly well-known for these effects.

Suicidal Ideation

The isolation and loneliness that can stem from excessive social media use — coupled with the negative social comparison — can push some young individuals to experience thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

The anonymity of online interactions may also contribute to the exacerbation of these feelings.

If you believe that someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, there are crisis hotlines to contact. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

You can also urge them to use the Lifeline Chat.

Eating Disorders

Social media’s emphasis on appearance and the prevalence of diet and fitness content can contribute to the development or exacerbation of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

Young users may be influenced by images and messages that promote unhealthy body image ideals.

TorHoerman Law: Investigating the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

TorHoerman Law’s team is investigating claims against social media companies for contributing to the teen mental health crisis.

If you or a loved one excessively used social media platforms and developed mental health problems, you may be eligible to file a social media lawsuit.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify to join others filing social media lawsuits today.

Reach out to our law office and find out how our attorneys can help you seek justice.