Does Instagram Cause Anxiety?

Key Takeaways

• Studies suggest heavy Instagram use is associated with anxiety symptoms in teens. Keep in mind these studies do not prove direct causation.
• Lawsuits filed nationwide allege that Instagram’s design played a role in worsening anxiety and other harms in young users. No final verdicts have been reached yet on the lawsuits.
• Research and government warnings have raised issues about teens and social media use. These warnings are around repeated checking, comparison pressure, and sleep loss for teens.
• Legal options may exist for families if heavy Instagram use occurred during childhood or the teen years. This may be relevant when anxiety later interfered with everyday activities.

What We Mean By “Anxiety”

The information below is provided for educational purposes. It does not implicate any particular company or technology.

Let’s clarify how ‘anxiety’ is described in Instagram youth mental health lawsuits.

These include recognized anxiety disorders or clinically significant symptoms that interfere with daily life. Consistent with standard medical definitions.

Everyday Anxiety Explained

Anxiety is a normal stress response from the body. This response can include worry, nervousness, or fear. This response is often temporary and tied to a particular scenario.

What Is An Anxiety Disorder?

An anxiety disorder would involve frequent and intense worry. Anxiety disorders are hard to control and interfere with one’s daily life. They can impact work, school, sleep, relationships etc.

Symptoms of anxiety disorders may include:

• Ongoing worry
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Muscle tension
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sleep problems

If anxiety is constant or not treated long term, symptoms can worsen over time.

Can I Sue Instagram Over Anxiety?

You may be able to sue Instagram for anxiety if you used it heavily as a minor. This applies when anxiety symptoms later interfered with daily life. Keep in mind, this depends on your individual situation.

Some lawsuits claim that Instagram played a role in making anxiety worse for certain users. The claims focus on how the app is built to keep people using it, and on failures tied to youth safety. They do not say Instagram alone caused anxiety.

TIME reports that these cases are part of a large federal court process that combines similar lawsuits. The litigation centers on claims of addictiveness and harm to young users. The court has not yet ruled on outcomes.

People who ask about these cases often share a few common factors. Prior anxiety treatment is one. Heavy use during childhood or the teen years is another. Severe anxiety that affects daily life can also matter.

What Research Suggests About Instagram and Anxiety

A federal advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General warns that some social media designs can put teens at risk. Anxiety, sleep problems, eating disorder concerns, and self-harm are among the risks listed.

Research in JAMA Psychiatry found higher mental health risk in young teens who spent over three hours a day on social media. Anxiety and depression were included. This research shows a connection, not final proof of cause.

How Instagram May Contribute to Anxiety

Reward Loops and Repeated Checking

Research shows that “unpredictable rewards” can trigger dopamine responses. These dopamine responses can lead to compulsive checking of social media. This can feel like anxiety driven monitoring.

Signs of Problematic Social Media Use

There are ways scientists measure problematic social media use. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale shows what “addiction-like” use of social media can look like.

This scale identifies six symptoms of social media addiction. These symptoms are:

• Tolerance
• Withdrawal
• Conflict
• Preoccupation
• Mood modification
• Relapse

How Heavy Use Affects Children

A pediatric source links heavier social media use with anxiety through:

• Constant comparison
• Public comments
• Less sleep
• Disrupted social-emotional development

In 2021, the Wall Street Journal reported on internal Meta documents that became public. These documents suggested Meta had done its own research on potential effects of its platforms on teens.

Some teens surveyed indicated that Instagram made them feel worse. According to documents and whistleblowers, teen users reported increases in anxiety, along with other harms after using Instagram. The other alleged harms include:

• depression,
• social comparison, and
• worries about friendships

It’s important to note that these concerns did not apply to all teen users.

Red Flags For Parents To Watch Out For

Are you worried about your child’s heavy Instagram use and them developing anxiety-related problems? There are several warning signs parents can look out for to identify problematic behavior.

1. Some warning signs may show up related to their Instagram posting behaviors. A child may panic after sharing something or feel strong fear about notifications or missed updates. They may have their attention pulled back to their device again and again.
2. Other signs may show up in daily life. They may avoid school or social time. Overall sleep time can drop because of late-night phone use. They may become irritable or distressed when their access to social media becomes limited.
3. A psychiatric review linked exposure to self-harm content with distress and suicidal thoughts in vulnerable teens. If your teen shows signs of suicidal thoughts or consumption of self-harm content this should be treated as urgent and addressed with immediate professional help.

Free Instagram Anxiety Lawsuit 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.

Have you or your child suffered anxiety-related symptoms after heavy Instagram use as a minor? If so, you may have legal options in your situation. You can request a free case review here.