Instagram Lawsuit Attorneys
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Experienced Instagram Addiction Lawyers
Social media was originally designed to help connect people through the use of the internet, but since its emergence, social media has become more interested in generating revenue. Unfortunately, this is often done at the expense of users, including minor children, teenagers, and young adults.
Many states in the U.S. are suing Instagram, and their parent company Meta, for the design of the platform. They claim that Meta has intentionally designed their platform to keep young people on the site or app as long as possible, even at the expense of their mental health. They also claim that Meta has used and sold data from users under the age of consent, violating U.S. privacy laws.
We understand how difficult it can be to shield your child from harm, especially in the face of the internet. If your child has suffered from harm as a result of Instagram, the social media addiction attorneys at Reich & Binstock are here to help.
Call us at (713) 622-7271 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney on our team regarding your case.
Statistics on Instagram Usage
In early 2023, Meta claimed that Instagram had over 2 billion global users, with about 31% of those users between the ages of 18 and 24. According to Statista, the average Instagram user spends about 33 minutes on the platform daily. However, for some younger users, this number is much higher.
Can People Become Addicted to Instagram?
Yes, adults and children can become addicted to Instagram. But why is social media addictive like this? Social media apps like Instagram promote endless scrolling, providing users with non-stop content specifically tailored to their interests. They also use push notifications to notify users when they’ve received a like, comment, or direct message. Both of these features use basic human psychology to keep users on the app for as long as possible every single day, resulting in an addiction to the platform.
Individuals with social media addiction may prioritize engaging with others online over engaging with them in real life. They may also experience social media withdrawal symptoms when unable to access the apps and struggle to control their usage, even if they recognize that social media has a negative impact on their overall well-being. They often engage in actions like compulsively checking notifications, excessively scrolling through social content, and failing to disengage from online activities.
What Are Instagram’s Effects on Young People’s Mental Health?
Social media apps like Instagram can have a wide range of effects on young people and their mental health. A 2019 study found that adolescents who use social media for more than 30 minutes a day are at a higher risk of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
Additionally, it can lead young people to experience body image issues, fear of missing out (FOMO), and, ironically, social isolation. Instagram’s non-stop feed can cause children and other young users to develop an addiction to the platform. Prolonged exposure to Instagram can also increase the risk of cyberbullying, and it has the potential to negatively affect their sleep, school performance, and social life.
How Instagram Addiction Can Harm Young Users
Social media addiction can be harmful to anyone at any age, but children and other young people are much more vulnerable to this kind of addiction. According to recent social media addiction statistics, 62% of teens use Instagram, and 10% of teens report using the app almost constantly.
Many apps teens use have virtually no regulations in place to protect young people from harm, allowing unchecked social media companies to exploit them for profit. Additionally, the content that young people are exposed to can be extremely harmful to them and others, which can lead them to self-harm or cause harm to others.
This combination of social media addiction and exposure to harmful content has contributed to the youth mental health crisis we’re experiencing in the U.S. today.
Social Comparisons on Social Media Platforms
Self-comparison on social media can lead to detrimental effects on mental health and self-esteem. People on Instagram and other social media apps have a tendency to only post the best parts of themselves and their lives, which can give young users a skewed sense of reality and sense of self.
This can cause young people on these platforms to develop feelings of inadequacy, envy, and depression, lowering their self-esteem. Low self-confidence and negative self-talk can lead children to engage in dangerous behaviors, like self-harm or disordered eating. It can also lead them to experience suicidal ideation.
Can You Sue Instagram?
Yes, if you or your child has suffered harm as a result of Instagram use, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. When tech companies develop a product that is harmful to users, they can be held financially and even criminally responsible for the effects of their product. Social media platforms like Instagram are no exception.
Parents can sue Instagram on the grounds that the platform’s design and features contribute to their children’s social media addiction, causing them harm. The U.S. states that are suing Instagram claim that the platform knowingly employs addictive tactics, such as endless scrolling and targeted advertising, which exploit young users’ psychological vulnerabilities.
According to a lawsuit filed in a California federal court, they claim that Meta has used “powerful and unprecedented technologies to…ultimately ensnare youth and teens” and keep them on the platform as long as possible.
Additionally, parents could claim that Instagram fails to adequately protect minors from harmful content and online predators, thus breaching its duty of care to its users. They can also file suit if their child has suffered from mental health issues or self-harm as a direct result of Instagram’s platform.
How to File a Lawsuit Against Instagram
If you believe you have grounds to file a lawsuit against Instagram, the first step is to contact a personal injury lawyer. They can evaluate your eligibility and can help you file a social media addiction lawsuit against Instagram and Meta.
From there, they can help guide you through the legal process, and can even help you join any pre-existing class action or mass tort lawsuits against Meta. The dedicated liability lawyers at Reich & Binstock can evaluate your claim and provide you with personalized legal advice regarding your situation. Call us at (713) 622-7271 to schedule a free initial consultation and begin your journey toward justice.
What Are the Potential Damages in Instagram Addiction Lawsuits?
In a social media addiction lawsuit, parents and young adults can recover compensation for the losses they or their children suffered as a result of social media addiction. Some of these damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Past and future mental health treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Funeral and burial expenses, in the event of a wrongful death
If you or your child have been injured by Instagram, we want to help ensure you receive justice. While financial compensation can’t reverse the damage that’s been done, it can at the very least provide financial support to victims so that they have the best chance at a successful recovery.
Who Can File an Instagram Mental Health Lawsuit?
In order to be eligible for an Instagram lawsuit, you or your child must have:
- An addiction to social media
- An addiction to social media that developed before they reached the age of 25
- Suffered physical or psychological harm as a result of the addiction
If you or your child fit these criteria, it’s important to speak to a personal injury attorney regarding your case. A product liability lawyer with experience handling social media addiction lawsuits can help guide you through the process and can help you and your family seek justice.
What Are the Chances of a Successful Social Media Lawsuit?
While hundreds of social media addiction lawsuits have been filed, none have been tried yet, so it’s hard to say whether or not a social media lawsuit will be successful or not. The chances of filing a successful social media lawsuit vary depending on factors like the specific circumstances of the case, the strength of the evidence, and the expertise of the attorneys involved.
In recent years, a lot of research studies have established a link between social media use and mental health issues. However, it may be difficult to connect a victim’s injuries to a social media platform. Additionally, if the victim was addicted to multiple social media platforms, it may be difficult to claim that they were addicted to and harmed by Instagram in particular.
Despite all of this, it’s still possible for social media lawsuits to be very successful. There are massive gaps in legislation surrounding social media platforms, so lawsuits against them can establish a precedent for all future claims and protect others from harm in the future.
What’s important is that victims receive justice and that social media companies are held liable for their harmful business practices.
When Are Social Media Companies Liable for Social Media Addiction?
Instagram and other social media companies may only be held liable under certain circumstances. One way they can be liable for social media addiction is if they knowingly designed their platforms to exploit psychological vulnerabilities, especially if they failed to establish age-appropriate standards to protect younger users.
Another way they can be held liable is if they negligently allow harmful and predatory content on their platform without properly monitoring or removing such content. They can also be held liable for not warning users of the potentially harmful effects of using their platform.
When product developers create something for consumer use, they are responsible for protecting users from harm. If these social media companies fail to do enough internal research before launching or updating their platform, they may be held liable for damages that their product caused.
Contact an Instagram Lawsuit Attorney at Reich & Binstock
If you or a loved one has been affected by the harmful consequences of social media addiction, the experienced attorneys at Reich & Binstock are here to help. We are dedicated to advocating for injury victims, even in the face of major social media companies.
Our knowledgeable Instagram lawsuit attorneys will thoroughly evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and guide you through the legal process from start to finish. We’ll also fight tirelessly on behalf of you and your family to ensure you receive the best possible outcome for your case.
Take the first step toward justice–call us at (713) 622-7271 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.
There is never a fee unless we recover on your behalf.
Additionally, clients are not obligated to pay expenses if a recovery is not made.
