Designed to Be Addictive: Sokolove Law Attorney Explains the Social Media Harm Lawsuits

Endless scrolling, autoplay, and a steady stream of likes and notifications keep millions of people coming back to social media platforms daily, with families claiming addiction to these platforms has contributed to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other serious harm.

Those concerns have turned into thousands of lawsuits against social media companies, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap. The cases allege that the platforms were designed in ways that encourage compulsive use among children and teens.

I sat down with Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law, to discuss the signs of social media addiction, who may be eligible to file a lawsuit, and recent results from the growing litigation.

If you or someone you love developed a serious addiction to social media as a child and experienced harm as a result, you may have legal options. Learn more about the social media addiction lawsuit or reach out for a free case review.

Q. Can you be addicted to social media?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: Unfortunately, I see it all too frequently with my clients. People can develop patterns of compulsive or problematic social media use that interfere with their everyday lives.

And when I say that, I don’t just mean somebody spends a lot of time on their phone. It’s whether they feel unable to stop or cut back even when their use is causing problems with sleep, work, school, relationships, or other parts of their life.

There is still some discussion around how social media addiction should be classified medically, but that doesn’t mean the behavior isn’t serious or disruptive. If someone has repeatedly tried to stop or cut back on social media use and can’t, despite the problems it’s causing, that can signal a much larger problem.

Q. Why is social media addictive?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: A big part of what’s being claimed in social media litigation is that the platforms have been intentionally designed to keep people engaged. You have features like endless scrolling, autoplay, personalized recommendations, and notifications about likes or comments that can encourage users to keep coming back and spending more and more time on the platform.

There’s also a reward component, and that’s really about how our brains respond to those things. You might check your phone and see something you like or find that somebody liked your post or sent you a message. That can feel rewarding, and it can make you want to check again.

And the important part is that you don’t know exactly when that next reward is going to happen. You might check your phone and find nothing interesting, and then the next time you check, there’s a message or a video you really like. So you keep checking because you know that something rewarding might be there.

That’s part of what clients have said can make these platforms difficult to put down. It’s not simply that somebody likes using social media. It’s that the way the platforms provide that constant stream of new content and feedback can reinforce the behavior and make somebody want to keep coming back.

Q. What are the signs of a social media addiction?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: There are various potential signs of social media addiction from what we’ve seen. One is how often somebody feels like they have to check their phone, particularly when they’re supposed to be doing something else. Maybe they’re at work or school, or they’re spending time with their family, and they keep checking social media anyway.

Sleep is also one of the first things many clients bring up. If somebody is staying up late because they’re on social media, or they’re waking up during the night to check their phone, that’s something I’d be concerned about.

And then you have to look at what it’s doing to the rest of their life. Is it causing problems at work or school? Is it creating conflict with family or friends? Are they losing interest in things they used to enjoy? Some people may also become anxious, restless, or irritable when they can’t get on social media.

But again, spending a lot of time on social media doesn’t automatically mean somebody is addicted. The question is whether they can control their use or if their use harms them in some way.

If somebody is trying to cut back and can’t or they’re continuing to use social media even though it’s causing problems in their life, that’s when I think you may be looking at a larger issue.

Q. What social media platforms are most addictive?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: I don’t think you can say that one particular platform is automatically more addictive than others. Different platforms use different features to keep users coming back again and again. We’ve seen clients develop a problematic pattern of use across more than one platform.

There are a number of platforms that have been the subject of lawsuits involving allegations of harmful or addictive design, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube.

The allegations raise questions about how these products were designed, what the companies knew about the potential risks, and whether certain features were designed or marketed in a way that encouraged young people to keep coming back and using the platforms.

Q. Is the social media addiction lawsuit real?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: At this time, thousands of lawsuits have been filed across the country alleging that social media companies designed their platforms in ways that could encourage compulsive use and contribute to harm, particularly among children and adolescents.

These cases have been filed against major social media companies, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snap. Some of the cases have actually already gone to trial. Earlier this year, a jury found Meta and Google negligent in a case involving a young woman who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child. The jury awarded her $6 million in damages.

Q. Do I qualify for the social media addiction lawsuit?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: The cases we’re talking about are generally focused on people who became addicted to social media when they were children. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to these products while their brains are still developing. If the person who experienced harm is still a minor, a parent or legal guardian may be able to bring a claim on their behalf.

But being young and using social media isn’t enough by itself. We’re really looking at whether somebody developed a serious addiction and whether that addiction caused them actual harm. Many of our clients have dealt with significant mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or eating disorders, and some have experienced self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

An attorney can look at the specific details of your case and determine if you may qualify for the social media addiction lawsuit.

Q. How do I file a claim for social media addiction?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: The first step is usually to contact a law firm that handles these types of cases. You’ll likely be asked some questions about the social media platforms involved, the person’s age and history of use, and the problems or injuries you believe resulted from that use.

From there, an attorney can review the circumstances and tell you whether you may have a claim and what the next steps would be. If you do have a case, the law firm will work with you to gather the evidence needed to support it.

Then the attorneys can handle the legal process for you, including filing the claim and dealing with the social media companies and their attorneys. You don’t have to know how to do all of that yourself. I always remind my clients — that’s what you’re hiring the lawyer to do.

Q. What evidence do I need for a social media addiction lawsuit?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: The goal of evidence in a social media addiction lawsuit is to show what happened, how the person was using social media, and what harm they experienced as a result. So, that may include medical or counseling records, school records, screen time data, and testimony from experts who can speak to how these platforms are designed and the impact of heavy social media use.

Statements from parents, teachers, or others who noticed changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or schoolwork can also help. You don’t need to have everything gathered before you reach out. An attorney can help identify what’s relevant and request additional records as part of the case.

In some cases, it can help to save a log of your social media hours or chats, including screenshots of usage reports, notifications, or messages, since this information can be deleted or become harder to access over time.

Q. Have there been any social media addiction lawsuit settlements or verdicts?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: Yes. One of the biggest developments was in March 2026, when a California jury found that Meta and Google were negligent in the design and operation of Instagram and YouTube respectively, determining that their conduct substantially contributed to a woman’s mental health problems from when she was a child. The jury awarded her $6 million.

New Mexico has also had a significant case against Meta that same month. A jury found Meta liable for violating the state’s consumer protection laws and imposed $375 million in civil penalties. The case involved allegations that Meta misled consumers about the safety of their platforms and endangered children. The verdict was later increased, bringing the total financial judgment to $942 million.

There have also been settlements. For example, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok reached settlements with a Kentucky school district over claims that their platforms contributed to problems with students’ mental health. The terms of those settlements weren’t disclosed.

And in August, Meta reached a $17.1 billion settlement with 47 states and several U.S. territories over claims involving the design and safety of Instagram and Facebook for young users. That’s a state consumer-protection settlement though, so it’s different from an individual lawsuit where a person is seeking damages for the harm they experienced.

So, yes, there have been actual verdicts and settlements. But every situation is different, and the individual facts of each case can greatly influence potential payout amounts.

Q. How much does it cost to sue for social media addiction?

Ricky A. LeBlanc: My firm takes these cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to get started. You pay us nothing while we investigate your claim, gather evidence, and file a lawsuit against the companies responsible for the addiction.

Instead, the way it works is that we receive a portion of the compensation we secure for you. If there is no recovery, you don’t owe us anything.

The exact terms of the agreement are something we’d go over with you before you decide to move forward, so you know how the fee works and what you can expect.

Get Justice for Families Impacted by Social Media Addiction

If you or someone you love developed an addiction to a social media platform, you are not alone. At AddictionHelp.com, we help families find resources and understand their options when social media addiction has led to serious harm.

Lawsuits against social media companies allege that their platforms were designed to keep young people hooked, and pursuing a legal claim may be one way families can hold these companies accountable.

An attorney may be able to help your family gather evidence, file a lawsuit, and seek compensation for the harm you’ve experienced — all at no cost to you.

Get a free case review now to find out if you may be eligible to pursue a social media addiction lawsuit.