Can I Sue YouTube?

Who May Be Able to Sue YouTube?

Let’s take a look at who may be able to sue YouTube for youth mental health harm.

1. Young adults who experienced harm as minors

Young adults who used YouTube as minors then later experienced mental-health injuries may be eligible. This group often includes young adults in approximately the 18-25 age range.

2. Parents or legal guardians of kids affected by heavy YouTube use

Parents in certain cases may pursue claims if their child suffered mental-health harm after YouTube use.

3. School districts

Many school districts nationwide are suing social media companies, including YouTube. They say social media has increased costs of addressing student mental-health needs.

Why Some People Are Suing YouTube

People suing YouTube allege the company used design choices that may encourage heavy use among minors. They allege this heavy use may be linked to mental health harms to some minors.

Claims also focus on engagement-driven features. They allege these features may expose minors to harmful or extreme content.

Background on YouTube

Before we discuss why people are suing YouTube, let’s quickly review some facts about the platform.

YouTube is an online video sharing platform. It was founded in 2005 by former PayPal employees.

The platform grew fast as the popularity of user-generated content and viral sharing increased. YouTube was acquired by Google in 2006.

Features of YouTube

YouTube has various features and types of video content. Here are some of the main features:

• YouTube offers
• Long-form videos,
• Shorts,
• Music,
• Podcasts, and
• Algorithm-driven recommendations across devices

An interesting fact is that television is reportedly the primary way users view YouTube content in the US.

Why People Say They Are Suing YouTube Over Youth Mental Health

According to CBS News, thousands of families have filed youth harm lawsuits against social media companies. They allege that the companies prioritized engagement and profits over child safety.

Similar claims have also been reported by the BBC. Their reporting says industry insiders claim social media companies design their apps to maximize engagement.

In addition, states have also sued social media companies over youth harm concerns. For example, in 2025, the Nevada attorney general also sued YouTube and its parent companies. The lawsuit alleges the platform was intentionally designed to be addictive and may harm young users. Google has denied these allegations, claiming they prioritize youth safety.

Alleged Harmful Design Features on YouTube

Lawsuits allege that certain YouTube features may encourage compulsive use by minors. Some of the features mentioned in lawsuits include:

• Autoplay – This feature automatically plays the next queued video. People suing YouTube point to this feature as removing clear stopping points between videos.
• Recommendations – Algorithmic suggestions guide users toward related content. People suing allege it may contribute to extended viewing sessions.
• Shorts – Fast-paced, short-form videos.
• Notifications – Alerts about uploads or live streams. The lawsuits allege this contributes to repeated checking.

People suing YouTube allege these elements may increase:

• Screen time, and
• Exposure to harmful material

What Does Health Research Show?

Researchers have studied how young people use social media. Public health officials have looked at how this use affects mental health. Here are some of the reported findings.

What has the U.S. Surgeon General warned about?

A Surgeon General advisory warns that engagement-based designs can expose teens to harm. These stated harms include: depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating-disorder concerns, and self-harm.

How much social-media use is linked to mental-health risks?

Researchers published in JAMA Psychiatry studied teens ages 12-15. They found more than three hours a day on social media raised mental-health risk.

What kinds of content raise concerns for teens?

A psychiatry review found teens can encounter self-harm content on social media. The review found some teens copy harmful behavior they see online. Researchers linked exposure to this type of content to distress and suicidal thoughts.

Why do some social media features encourage repeated checking?

Research shows some features may trigger dopamine responses which encourage repeated checking. A feature that may trigger dopamine responses is unpredictable rewards, including variable notifications.

How do researchers measure problematic social-media use?

One method for measuring problematic social media use is the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. The scale identifies six symptoms: preoccupation, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse.

Key Claims Raised in the Lawsuits

The lawsuits focus on YouTube’s design and how it is alleged to affect young users.

• Design-Defect Allegations – The claims say YouTube used features like autoplay, content feeds, alerts, and reward loops. According to the lawsuits, these features are alleged to push minors to stay on the platform for long periods.
• Failure-to-Warn Allegations – The cases also raise warning concerns. People suing YouTube claim to have received little notice about mental health risks tied to heavy use. Some alleged risks include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sleep problems, and self-harm.
• Negligence Allegations – These point to safety gaps. The lawsuits cite parental controls and age checks that are allegedly easy to bypass. People suing also say some systems expose minors to harmful content.

YouTube Executives’ Words at CES

At CES 2018, YouTube explained how viewers find videos on the platform.

The comments came from Neal Mohan, the company’s Chief Product Officer.

Mohan said suggested videos account for over 70 percent of total viewing time. He explained that people usually follow on-screen suggestions instead of typing new searches.

He also addressed phone use. Mohan said mobile viewing sessions run longer than 60 minutes on average. He said the videos shown during playback help explain that length.

Mohan said YouTube aims to line up videos for each viewer. He explained that machine learning and artificial intelligence help the system learn what users watch.

CNET reported these remarks after CES. The report reflects how YouTube leadership described video suggestions during the panel.

Possible Eligibility Criteria

Want to know who may be eligible to sue YouTube for youth harm? A young adult or the parents of an affected minor may be eligible if they:

• Used YouTube frequently as a minor.
• Later developed a serious mental-health condition as listed below.

Winder Law Firm is gathering information from individuals with potential legal claims who have been diagnosed with certain health conditions. Inquiries may be shared with a partner firm under a marketing arrangement.

How to File to Sue YouTube For Youth Harm

Some people are asking: how can I sue YouTube, or how to file a lawsuit against YouTube? Taking steps to sue YouTube for youth mental health harm usually follow a process focused on eligibility review.

Steps may include:

• Contacting a social media harm attorney
• Providing platform-usage history and mental-health records
• A lawyer reviewing eligibility
• If applicable, the case may be filed individually and coordinated within MDL 3047

Some people also ask, can I sue YouTube for emotional distress? This depends on documented harm and individual circumstances.

Get a Free YouTube Lawsuit Evaluation

Note: Fill out the form or call to see if legal options may be available. Inquiries may be shared with a partner law firm under a marketing arrangement. The partner may assist with next steps.

Are you doing research because you’re considering suing YouTube for youth harm? Contact us for a free legal consultation to discuss your situation.