Instagram Mental Health Lawsuit

What Is the “Instagram” Mental Health Lawsuit?

The Instagram mental health lawsuit belongs to a larger set of cases. These lawsuits target Instagram and other major social media platforms.

The lawsuits allege that platform design features contributed to compulsive use among minors. Reported harms include mental health injuries in young users. People bringing lawsuits claim these usage patterns were tied to how algorithms presented content and interactions.

As of November 2025, Time reported that more than 1,800 plaintiffs are suing Meta and other companies.

The groups suing include children, parents, school districts, and state attorney generals. Court filings allege Meta had knowledge of mental health risks tied to Instagram. They also cite unsafe interactions involving minors.

The lawsuits allege that the warnings to parents and regulators were not enough. People suing allege safer design choices could have reduced harm to children.

These cases are typically filed as product-liability lawsuits focused on platform design. Many are now coordinated in a federal multidistrict litigation.

Who Qualifies for an “Instagram” Lawsuit?

Potentially qualified individuals for an instagram mental health lawsuit are often people who:

• Used the platform heavily as minors, and
• Later developed serious mental or behavioral health problems that may be linked to that use.

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 law firm under a marketing arrangement.

Instagram Addiction and Youth Harm Overview

Some individuals are considering filing Instagram addiction lawsuit claims. The following background may help explain why these cases were filed.

About Instagram

The Instagram app launched in 2010. It started as a photo sharing service created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The idea came after they shifted away from an earlier project known as Burbn.

User growth followed soon after launch. Within three months, the app reached one million users.

Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012. Facebook is now known as Meta Platforms, Inc., and the deal was reported at one billion dollars. Instagram now reports more than two billion active users worldwide.

People use Instagram for many everyday purposes. Common uses include messaging, viewing content, and entertainment. Businesses also use the platform for marketing and commerce.

Features of the platform include:

• Reels for short videos,
• Stories that disappear after twenty four hours,
• Search and Explore tools, and
• Direct messaging

Teens and young adults are frequent users of these features.

Alleged Harmful Design Features on Instagram

According to lawsuits, Instagram includes features that may encourage compulsive use among minors. The focus is on how the app presents and repeats content.

• Reels and Explore both rely on engagement signals to recommend content.
• Infinite scroll keeps new posts loading without a natural break.

Other features are also cited in the lawsuits, for instance:

• Visible likes and follower counts can push users to compare themselves to others.
• Beauty filters change appearance and may worsen body image concerns.
• Push notifications can prompt frequent checking and reinforce repeated use.

BBC reporting includes claims from industry insiders. They say social media companies design apps to maximize engagement.

What Is Social Media Addiction?

“Social media addiction” is not always a clinical diagnosis. Many experts use the phrase to describe compulsive use that disrupts normal life.

Some people spend long hours on Instagram each day. Others feel strong urges to check the app often. Mood changes may occur when access is restricted. School, sleep, and relationships can be affected by heavy use.

Researchers study common patterns tied to this behavior. These include preoccupation tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse. Lawsuits allege that certain Instagram features increase these risks for some minors.

Social Media Use and Mental Health Concerns

The lawsuit against Instagram alleges the platform was designed to attract young users. Plaintiffs, or the people suing, claim the design focused on keeping those users active.

Lawsuits allege that certain Instagram features are linked to these risks for some minors. Other forms of harm are also claimed.

What Health Research Shows

Several studies and reviews have examined how social media use relates to youth mental health.

• A U.S. Surgeon General advisory warns that platforms built around engagement may expose teens to mental health risks. The advisory lists concerns such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating disorder issues, and self harm.
• Research published in JAMA Psychiatry studied youth ages twelve to fifteen. The study found a higher risk of mental health problems among those who spent more than three hours a day on social media.
• A review in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry has also contributed to this body of knowledge. That review reported links between exposure to self harm content and psychological distress. The review also noted links to suicidal ideation.
• Neuroscience research offers one explanation for these patterns. Studies show that unpredictable rewards can trigger dopamine responses tied to compulsive behavior. Examples include likes, notifications, and other forms of variable feedback.
• Researchers also use tools like the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. This scale tracks signs such as preoccupation, mood change, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse.

Reported Youth Harms Associated With Instagram Use

Reports have linked heavy Instagram use with mental health concerns in teens.

• Depression and anxiety are often mentioned.
• Eating disorders and body image issues also appear in reported cases.
• Sleep disruption has been described as well.
• Some reports include self harm thoughts.
• Academic decline and social withdrawal have also been noted.

Possible factors researchers cite that may contribute to these concerns include:

• Social comparison,
• Harmful content,
• Night time use,
• Fear of missing out, and
• Notification pressure

Research continues, and it’s important to note that not all users are affected the same way.

Instagram Specific Allegations

Lawsuits against Meta claim Instagram encouraged frequent use by minors, despite reported concerns.

Court filings reference internal Meta research. Their own research reportedly showed harm to teen girls who already had body-image struggles. Teen girls in the study said Instagram made body-image issues worse for one in three of them.

Other internal documents reportedly found that:

• More than forty percent of teens who felt unattractive traced those feelings back to Instagram.
• Reported findings show about twenty percent of teens said the platform made them feel worse.
• Some teens who experienced suicidal thoughts reportedly linked those thoughts to Instagram use.

Lawsuits cite figures showing thirteen percent of British teens and six percent of U.S. teens made that connection.

Meta disputes these claims and says it has taken steps to improve teen safety.

The lawsuits also describe design features said to increase time spent on the app. These include:

• Infinite scroll and recommendation systems that load new content nonstop.
• Likes and follower counts are alleged to drive constant checking and comparison.
• Appearance filters are claimed to worsen body image concerns.
• Push notifications are also described as reinforcing repeated use.
• Internal research is cited to support claims that these features combined to raise risks for vulnerable youth.

Filings reference outside research as well.

• A 2014 study linked image-based platforms to thin-ideal thinking, lower body esteem, and dieting in girls ages ten to twelve.
• A 2020 Australian study linked heavy focus on selfies to eating disorder symptoms. These studies are cited to support claims about appearance-focused design.

Main Allegations in the Lawsuits

Across the cases, people bringing lawsuits allege that:

• Instagram used addictive design features aimed at minors.
• Meta possessed information about youth mental-health risks.
• Families were not properly warned.
• Parental controls and age checks were not strong enough.

How to File an “Instagram Addiction Lawsuit”

Potential Compensation for “Instagram” Addiction Lawsuits

No settlements have been reached in these cases. If compensation becomes available, the amount would depend on individual circumstances.

Settlement Disclaimer: Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and compensation depends on individual circumstances.

Settlement Range for Instagram Addiction Lawsuits

See disclaimer above. Results vary and no outcome is guaranteed.

There are no settlements for Instagram youth mental health lawsuits that have been finalized.

Factors That May Impact Settlement Amount

See disclaimer above. Results vary and no outcome is guaranteed.

If settlements occur in the future, the amount could depend on factors such as severity of harm, evidence, and duration of use. No outcomes are guaranteed.

Get a Free “Instagram” Addiction Case Review

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.

If you believe Instagram use may have contributed to your or your child’s mental health challenges, you can request a free case review. This does not create an attorney-client relationship.