Parents usually ask us two questions in the same breath: does my child qualify, and how do we join? There is no sign-up form for the social media addiction lawsuit. Each family files its own case. This article explains who qualifies, who does the filing when the injured person is a minor, how long you have, and what the process looks like.
The Four-Point Check
Your family may have a claim if all four are true:
- Your child is 25 or younger today, or was under 18 when the heavy use began.
- They used Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube about three or more hours a day, starting before age 18.
- They were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
- They were treated by a doctor, psychiatrist, therapist or counselor.
All four? Call 866-837-1010 or send us a message. Not sure about one? Call anyway.
Who Qualifies
The four points in the box are what lawyers and the courts are looking at. In plain terms: the use started young and was heavy, a clinician diagnosed a real mental health injury, and there are treatment records to show it. Eating disorders, self-harm and suicide attempts are the injuries seen most often in the cases set for trial. Families who lost a child to suicide may have a wrongful death claim.
Some situations are hard to bring: no diagnosis, no treatment of any kind, or heavy use that began only in adulthood. We will tell you on the first call if that is where your family stands.
Who Files When the Child Is a Minor
A minor cannot file a lawsuit on their own. A parent or legal guardian files on the child’s behalf, and the child is identified in federal court filings by initials. Once a young person is legally an adult, at 18 in Georgia and Tennessee and 19 in Alabama (Ala. Code § 26-1-1), they file in their own name. If a child has died, the claim is brought by the person state law names, which in Alabama is the personal representative of the estate (Ala. Code § 6-5-410).
How Long You Have
The deadline comes from your state, and the rules for minors are different from the rules for adults:
- Alabama: generally two years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38). A person who was under 19 when the claim arose generally has until two years after turning 19 (Ala. Code § 6-2-8). See our Alabama page.
- Georgia: generally two years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). For a minor’s own claim the period generally runs from age 18 (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90). See our Georgia page.
- Tennessee: generally one year (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104). A person who was under 18 generally has one year after turning 18 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-1-106). See our Tennessee page.
Do not plan around the extra time. A wrongful death claim has its own deadline, a parent’s own claims may not get the benefit of the child’s extension, and records and account data get harder to recover every month. Have the date checked now.
How Filing Works, Step by Step
- A free review. We talk with a parent about the diagnosis, the treatment and the apps involved.
- Records. With your permission we gather medical, counseling and school records. There is no upfront cost.
- Filing. We file an individual lawsuit, and it joins MDL 3047 in federal court in California for pretrial work. Most families never travel there.
- Resolution. If the case settles, a judge usually has to approve a settlement for a minor, which protects the child’s share.
What to Save Now
Keep the accounts and do not delete them. Each platform lets a user download account data, and that history often shows when the use changed. Save screen-time reports from the phone, and ask the school for attendance and counselor records.
For where the litigation stands, see our social media addiction lawsuit page and the monthly update. For what a claim may be worth, read the payout per person.
Talk With a Social Media Addiction Lawyer
Fob & Foster Personal Injury Lawyers review these claims for families at no charge. Call 866-837-1010 or send us a message. There is no fee unless we recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the social media addiction lawsuit?
The typical claim involves someone who is 25 or younger, used Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube heavily starting before age 18, was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, self-harm or suicidal thoughts, and received treatment.
Can I file a social media lawsuit for my child?
Yes. A parent or guardian files on behalf of a minor. A young adult who is no longer a minor files in their own name.
How do I join the social media addiction lawsuit?
You do not sign up or fill out a claim form. A lawyer files an individual lawsuit for your family, and the federal court groups it with the others in MDL 3047 for pretrial work.
Will my child have to testify?
Most cases in litigation like this resolve without a trial. Your child’s records and your own account of what happened do most of the work early on. If testimony is ever needed, your lawyer prepares you for it.
Fob James, IV
Fob James obtained a B.S., in software engineering from Auburn University and then continued his education by getting his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. After working for a large national firm for several years, Fob found that his passion was fighting for individuals who have been seriously injured or wronged by others. Fob believes that the jury is the great equalizer to the power and influence that large corporations have in society. Many of Fob’s cases are high profile and have been featured in, among others: Bloomberg News, PlanAdvisor, AL.com, PlanSponsor, National Law Review, and BusinessInsider. For his work in obtaining numerous multi-million dollar outcomes for his clients, Fob has been recognized by: National Trial Lawyers Top 100, SuperLawyers Rising Star (2020-2026), Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who in Law (2023-2025), and TrustAnalytica – Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Alabama.