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DID SOCIALMEDIA HARMYOUR CHILD?
Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, online exploitation. Thousands of families are suing Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube over design built to hook minors. A Los Angeles jury has already awarded $6 million. Free, confidential review in Spanish, for families in California and nationwide.
Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information until we confirm representation in writing.
- jury verdict against Meta and YouTube in the first individual addiction trial (Los Angeles, March 25, 2026; on appeal)
- $6M
- cases pending in federal court (MDL 3047) as of October 2026, plus 3,000+ in California state court (JCCP 5255)
- 3,824
- roughly double the risk of poor mental-health outcomes for teens using social media 3+ hours a day (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023)
- 2×
- of Hispanic teens use TikTok "almost constantly", triple the rate of white teens (Pew, December 2025)
- 34%
What you need to know
What the Lawsuits Allege: It's Not the Content, It's the Design
Families, school districts and state attorneys general across the country allege that social media companies studied how to capture young users' attention, then built features that take advantage of a still-developing brain: infinite scroll and autoplay with no natural stopping point; unpredictable rewards (likes, new content) that complaints compare to a slot machine; streaks that punish a missed day; notifications that arrive long after bedtime; beauty filters and public like counts that, according to Facebook's own 2019 internal research, made one in three teen girls who already had body-image difficulties feel worse.
California courts have ruled that these claims about product design are not barred by Section 230, and the Ninth Circuit confirmed it on August 10, 2026: Section 230 is a defense, not immunity. On March 25, 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent and awarded $6 million. On August 26, 2026, Meta agreed with state attorneys general to pay up to $17.1 billion and to add age verification, a 2-hour daily limit and a midnight-to-6 a.m. lockout for minors, an agreement that pays the states, not families. Individual lawsuits continue: more than 3,800 in federal court and a second Los Angeles trial underway since October 28, 2026.
We also review Roblox, Discord and AI chatbot cases, adult contact with minors, sextortion and conversations that encouraged self-harm, which follow separate, newer legal paths. We are the same team behind Online Addiction Lawyer: bilingual intake, families in all 50 states, and California-licensed attorneys who associate with attorneys in other states when needed, without increasing your total fee.
Does this apply to you?
The Harms We Review
Persistent depression or anxiety that led to medical care, counseling, treatment or difficulties at school
An eating disorder or body dysmorphia (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating) that required treatment
Self-harm, suicidal thoughts, a suicide attempt, a psychiatric hospitalization, or the loss of a child
Sextortion, grooming or sexual exploitation that began on a platform, an adult who reached a child through friend suggestions or direct messages
Severe sleep disruption tied to nighttime notifications and late-night use, with medical or school records
Heavy use began before age 18, whether your child is still a minor, is now a young adult, or you yourself were harmed as a teen
How it works
How a Case Works, Step by Step
Free Review (3 minutes or a call)
You tell us what happened. We ask four things first: the age heavy use began, which platforms, whether there was a diagnosis or treatment, and when the harm occurred (deadlines vary by state and differ for minors). No cost, no obligation, in Spanish.
We Gather the Records
If we accept the case, you sign authorizations and we collect the medical records, school records and account data. You don't need to gather anything before calling, and please don't send records, images or passwords online.
Filing in the Right Court
We file in the court that fits your family, California state court (JCCP 5255), federal court (MDL 3047) or another, and explain the privacy protections available, such as initials for minors.
Discovery and Experts
Both sides exchange evidence, including the companies' internal research and design documents. Specialists assess how platform use may have contributed to the harm described.
Resolution
A case may resolve through negotiation, court rulings or trial. Each family has its own case, it is not a class action with a fixed payout, and Meta's settlement with the states has no claim form for families. If we accept your case, we send you an agreement explaining fees and expenses before you decide to hire us.
Is there a Meta settlement claim form I can fill out?
No. The agreement announced in August 2026 provides payments to states, not individual families. Be wary of sites offering "claim forms." What we can do is review whether your family has a separate claim, which is how families are actually obtaining compensation.
Is this a class action?
No. Most are individual personal-injury lawsuits. Many are grouped in federal court (MDL 3047) or California state court (JCCP 5255) so evidence can be shared, but each claim is evaluated on its own facts and resolved separately.
My child is now an adult. Can we still file?
Possibly. Many people harmed as teens are now young adults who can bring their own claim. In California the two-year clock is generally paused until age 18; other states' rules differ. If you think a deadline may be close, say so when you contact us and we will look at it first.
Should I delete my child's accounts?
Seek guidance before deleting anything: account history, messages and usage data can be important evidence. Put safety first: report and block abusive contacts. Do not download or share sexual images of minors to "preserve evidence", ask NCMEC (report.cybertip.org, 1-800-843-5678) or law enforcement how to handle that material.
What if my child is in crisis right now?
Safety comes before any legal case. If there is immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, call or text 988 at any hour, press 2 for Spanish or text AYUDA to 988. Sextortion and explicit images can be reported to NCMEC; "Take It Down" (takeitdown.ncmec.org) helps stop images taken before 18 from spreading.
Will my child's name become public?
Protecting your family's privacy is a priority. We use the protections available in your court, such as initials for minors. Some court records may still be public; we will explain what to expect before filing.
We don't live in California. Can you help?
Yes. We review cases from families nationwide. Our attorneys are licensed in California; for families in other states, we may work with or refer you to attorneys licensed in your state, only with your written consent and without increasing your total fee.
How much does it cost, and what could we receive?
The initial review is free with no obligation. If we accept the case, we send you an agreement explaining fees and expenses before you decide; we work on contingency. We cannot predict compensation: these claims generally seek medical and counseling expenses, the harm itself and, in the most serious cases, losses connected to a child's death. Outcomes in other cases do not predict yours.
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Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information until we confirm representation in writing.