The question we hear most from parents is: "Is it already too late?" The answer depends on your child's age today, not on when the harm began. Here is how the deadline works in California for social media addiction cases.
The General Rule: Two Years
California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 gives two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury caused by negligence. That is the deadline that applies to claims against Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google.
The Pause for Minors
Section 352 of the same code "pauses" (legally, "tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18. In practice, the two-year clock generally starts running on the 18th birthday. A 19-year-old still has time; a 21-year-old probably does not, barring exceptions.
The Discovery Rule
In some cases the clock may start later: when the person discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, that the harm was caused by the defendant's conduct. Litigation attorneys have argued that many families did not learn of the link between app design and harm until the investigations and trials became public. It is an argument, not a guarantee.
Wrongful Death
If a child died by suicide, parents have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful-death claim. This deadline is not paused.
Why Not Wait
Even if you have time, evidence disappears: accounts get deleted, school records get archived, therapists change clinics. The coordinated litigation also has internal cutoffs for adding new cases to trial pools.
Check Your Deadline for Free
Tell us your child's date of birth, which apps were used and when the diagnosis was made. In a free Spanish-language call we will tell you how much time you have and what documents to gather. This information is general; your case may have exceptions.