In December 2025, the Pew Research Center published its annual survey on teens and technology. One figure stood out: Hispanic and Black teens are by far the heaviest users of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. For a community that already faces higher rates of persistent sadness and suicide attempts, that number is not just a statistic, it is part of the story the lawsuits tell.
The Numbers
According to Pew, 34% of Hispanic teens use TikTok "almost constantly," versus 10% of white teens. On YouTube, 23% of Hispanic teens report almost-constant use. And according to the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2023), 42.4% of Hispanic high-school students felt persistent sadness, 18.2% seriously considered suicide and 10.8% attempted it.
Why Intensity Matters in a Lawsuit
The lawsuits in California (JCCP 5255) and federal court (MDL 3047) allege the platforms designed features to maximize minors' time on the apps, knowing heavy use was associated with harm. The intake criteria used by lead firms ask for regular use, often "3 or more hours a day", that began before age 18. Latino teens meet that threshold far more often.
The Language Problem
Almost all legal advertising about these cases is in English. The two or three Spanish pages that exist belong to out-of-state firms with no presence in California's litigation. The result: the families most likely to qualify are the ones receiving the least information.
What This Does Not Mean
Using TikTok for many hours is not, by itself, a case. A documented diagnosis is needed, depression, anxiety, eating disorder, self-harm, plus a timeline linking it to the use. And every case is evaluated individually.
What a Family Can Do
Talk to your child without punishing. Get professional help if you see warning signs. Save the screen-time reports. And if there is a diagnosis, consult a lawyer who speaks your language and knows California's litigation. Our consultation is free.