Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers represents those harmed by social media platforms such as Instagram. If you or a loved one have suffered from a mental health crisis because of Instagram, we can file an Instagram lawsuit on your behalf seeking compensation for medical costs, pain, suffering, emotional damage, therapy costs and more.
Nine out of ten users of the internet use social media every month, and the average user of social media spends two hours and 20 minutes every day on social media. Unfortunately, one result of all this social media use is that a youth mental health crisis has formed.
Lawsuits are being filed against social media companies such as Instagram, alleging that the companies are intentionally engineering their platforms to be addictive to teens, causing young people to experience mental health issues.
We will represent you on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we won’t charge you any fee to handle your Instagram case until and unless we recover financial compensation on your behalf. The only fee we’ll charge to handle your Instagram case is a percentage of any recovery obtained – we won’t charge an upfront fee or out-of-pocket fee.
If you or a loved one has suffered Instagram mental health effects and can’t afford treatment, we can help you get treatment from professionals who won’t charge you until your case is over.
Call us today for a free consultation, text us from this page or fill out this page’s free case evaluation form if you or a loved one suffered from harm to mental health due to Instagram – you might be entitled to financial compensation.
What Are the Allegations in the Instagram Mental Health Lawsuit?
It is being alleged that Meta has intentionally designed Instagram to cause young users to become addicted to this, and that his has led to mental health issues.
In fact, it is being alleged that the harm caused by social media platforms like Instagram is so vast that school districts have had to create youth mental health programs to deal with the consequences of social media.
While Meta claims that it wants teenagers to have age-appropriate experiences online which are safe, lawsuits allege that Instagram and other social media platforms contribute to body image issues and poor self-esteem, largely because they relentlessly display beauty standards which are unattainable.
Lawsuits are arguing that social media companies such as Meta know about consequences like these, yet continue to support features which cause young people to become addicted, negatively affecting young people’s mental health.
The Mental Health Issues Caused by Instagram
Lawsuits allege that Instagram can have a negative effect on children’s mental health.
A 2018 study found that limiting usage of social media to about 30 minutes a day decreases depression and loneliness. The study involved 143 students who were randomly instructed to either use social media normally for a period of three weeks, or to limit their Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook use to 10 minutes per day per platform. The researchers discovered that the group who limited their use of social media demonstrated significant reductions in depression and loneliness. The researchers found these effects were particularly strong in those who were more depressed upon coming into the study.
A 2022 study found that increased social media use was significantly associated with a lower life satisfaction rating in younger adolescents. The researchers found that males between the ages of 14 and 15 experienced a significant decrease in life satisfaction when they used social media more, and found that females between the ages of 11 and 13 experienced a significant decrease in life satisfaction when they used social media more.
A 2023 study found that passive use of social media had a positive correlation with social anxiety. The study involved 1,740 students.
Instagram Knew It Was Harming Users
Lawsuits allege that Instagram knew that its platform was harming users, in particular, young girls and their body images. The lawsuits claim that Meta intentionally designed Instagram to be addictive – to maximize screen time at the detriment of children’s health.
According to an internal document, an employee at Instagram internally investigated eating disorders via the opening of a fake 13-year-old girl’s account which was searching for tips on dieting. The employee was shown graphic content, as well as recommendations for following accounts such as “apple core anorexic” and “skinny binge.”
Additional internal memos have shown that employees at Facebook (now Meta) raised concerns regarding company research revealing that one out of three teen girls felt worse regarding their bodies because of Instagram, and that young people who used Instagram experienced more depression and anxiety.
Instagram and Sexual Exploitation
Lawsuits allege that Instagram exposes users to sexually explicit content, is a vehicle for predators to contact children, and has even been a platform for “sextortionists.”
“Sextortionists” are predators who usually trick young victims, typically teenage boys, into thinking they’re talking with a girl their own age. These predators convince the victims to send explicit videos and photos, then threaten to share those images with others if the victims don’t send them money. A lawsuit alleges that these predators caused a 17-year-old boy to commit suicide in 2022, alleging that Meta did not do enough to protect young users from predators like these.
According to a Forbes report, a photographer who was accused of selling photographs to pedophiles was allowed to continue to use Instagram for months following his arrest on charges of sexually exploiting children.
Why Instagram Should be Held Responsible
Lawsuits are alleging that Instagram should be held responsible for the harm caused to young users’ mental health for numerous reasons, including:
Negligence
Negligence is failing to use reasonable care to prevent harm, and lawsuits allege that Meta has failed to use reasonable care to prevent young users from being harmed.
Lawsuits claim that Meta and Instagram knew that or should have known that Instagram’s algorithms could cause harm.
Despite being aware of this, lawsuits argue, Meta did not implement measures which would reduce risks for users. Lawsuits allege Meta has prioritized its own profit over the safety of users, fostering extended usage and addictive behavior despite being aware of the potential hazards of Instagram.
Failure to Warn Users
One of the biggest claims in lawsuits against Instagram is that Instagram did not adequately warn users, especially parents and minors, regarding the possible physical, emotional and mental risks which are associated with the use of Instagram.
Design Defects
Lawsuits argue that the design of Instagram is inherently defective because it can cause harm to its users, especially minors. The lawsuits claim that reasonable changes can be made to the platform to reduce the risks, yet Instagram refuses to implement said changes.
Harms Associated With Instagram Use
There are many possible harms that children could face as a result of Instagram use, including:
Depression
Many young Instagram users report losing interest in activities they enjoyed once, and feeling deep sadness. Symptoms such as these are considered depression, which may be caused by being relentlessly exposed to unrealistic success stories and lifestyles on the platform.
Self-Esteem Issues
Instagram constantly displays perfect lifestyles and images and this can significantly affect the self-esteem of young girls via promotion of unrealistic lifestyle and beauty standards.
Instagram can relentlessly pressure young girls to confirm to unrealistic standards, leading to a catastrophic cycle of comparison and self-criticism.
Compounding this is a need for peer influence and social validation on Instagram, where one’s self-worth can be measured by comments and likes.
Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmporhia is a mental health injury which involves obsessively focusing upon perceived flaws in one’s appearance. Instagram showcases curated perfection which feeds this concern over young users’ body image.
Eating Disorders
Being exposed to images which glorify some body types may trigger eating habits which are unhealthy. Certain users may end up striving for unattainable body images, which may lead to disorders such as bulimia or anorexia.
Self-Harm
Usage of Instagram can foster negative self-perception and pressures which have been linked with self-harming behaviors in impressionable young people.
ADHD
The consumption of content on Instagram is fast-paced in nature, and this may lead to impulsivity and shortened attention span, which are symptoms which are associated with ADHD.
Other Mental Illnesses
Instagram usage may lead to other issues such as anxiety, loneliness, social anxiety and lower satisfaction with life.
Potential Damages in an Instagram Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has been harmed by Instagram, you may qualify for financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
You may already be facing medical bills in association with harm caused by Instagram. In addition, you may face bills in the future regarding future treatment made necessary by harm caused by Instagram. We can help you recover financial compensation for all past and future medical expenses related to Instagram harm.
Pain and Suffering
If you or a loved one has experienced physical pain or mental suffering due to Instagram, we can place an accurate value on this pain and suffering and make sure you are fairly compensated for it.
Emotional Damage
If Instagram has caused emotional damage to you or a loved one, this is damage which we can help you recover financial compensation for.
Cost of Therapy
The mental health damage caused by Instagram may require years of therapy to undo. This therapy will cost money, and we can help you recover compensation for this therapy.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one committed suicide because of mental harm caused by Instagram, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf seeking financial compensation.
Signs Your Child Has a Social Media Addiction
If your child has a social media addition, you may find that their hobbies, social interactions and studies are taking a backseat to social media use. You may find your child is unhealthily preoccupied with how many comments shares and likes they receive on social media. You may find your child is exhibiting sadness, anxiety or irritability when they aren’t using social media.
If your child is addicted to social media, your children may be avoiding time outdoors and physical activities in order to stay indoors and keep using social media. Your children may neglect responsibilities like chores or homework to keep using social media. Your child may be experiencing disruptions in their sleep patterns due to social media, and your child may become socially withdrawn as a result of social media addiction.
Can I File an Instagram Lawsuit?
While addiction to social media has clearly harmed numerous users, only some people will be qualify to file an Instagram lawsuit.
You might qualify to file an Instagram addiction lawsuit if:
- An addiction to Instagram may be experienced by your child or yourself
- You or your child has suffered mental or physical harm due to this addiction
- You or your child became addicted to Instagram while under 25 years old
If you feel that you are eligible to file an Instagram lawsuit, or have been harmed because you were addicted to Instagram, call us today. We’ll provide you with a free, confidential, no obligations case evaluation. We’ll walk you through all of the criteria regarding filing your case, helping you to fully understand all of the legal options which are available to you.
Contact Our Legal Team Today
If you or your child has suffered from negative side effects due to social media addiction these side effects are technically an injury.
We have been helping injury victims recover financial compensation for their injuries since 1990 and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of those who have suffered mental and physical injuries.
Our vast experience in helping people recover compensation for their injuries means that we can recover the maximum compensation possible for you in your Instagram case.
Contact us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been harmed by Instagram. Remember: we won’t charge you any fee until and unless we win your Instagram case.
