New York Social Media Addiction Lawyers

GET LEGAL HELP

Home » New York Social Media Addiction Lawyers

Legally Reviewed by:

Alex Nocerino

READ BIO

Alex Nocerino is a founding partner at our firm and a successful trial lawyer with roots in New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice. He has helped injured individuals win hundreds of millions in compensation from large corporations, government entities, and wealthy landlords.

With 18 years of experience, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2019 and has a five-star Avvo rating. He is a true New Yorker and a successful trial lawyer who is unafraid to go up against even the powerful and combative defendants.

Content Last Updated: December 2, 2025

ON THIS PAGE

In recent years, social media has become an integral yet increasingly troubling part of modern life. While it connects us with friends, family, and businesses, it also brings unintended consequences. Social media addiction has led to mental health issues, loss of productivity, and even physical harm. People spend hours scrolling and comparing themselves to others, getting drawn into algorithms designed to keep them online. Consequently, users, particularly children and teenagers, experience anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation.

The scope of harm is vast, with over 1,800 lawsuits filed in federal courts, representing a significant increase from the 594 lawsuits filed in 2023. These lawsuits allege that social media platforms knowingly created addictive algorithms that harm young users. Other allegations suggest social media platforms are being used as tools for drug and sexual exploitation, with predators grooming minors, distributing illicit content, and luring vulnerable individuals into harmful cycles.

At Chopra & Nocerino, we believe that the corporations behind these platforms need to be held accountable. Families whose children become addicted to social media and suffer serious harm now have grounds to hold the companies behind these platforms accountable. Our experienced attorneys are currently investigating social media addiction cases, and we are committed to seeking justice for those who have been negatively affected by this widespread issue.

What Are the Signs of Social Media Addiction?

Social media addiction can manifest in different ways, including:

Excessive use: Spending several hours daily on social media, often at the expense of work, relationships, or health.
Negative emotional impact: Feeling anxious, depressed, or isolated when you're offline.
Inability to stop: Struggling to cut back on social media use, despite recognizing its harm.
Physical health issues: Experiencing sleep deprivation, eye strain, or other health problems from prolonged screen time.

If you recognize these signs in your life, it might be time to seek legal advice and explore your options for pursuing justice.

What Does Social Media Addiction Look Like?

Social media addiction is marked by a compulsive need to engage with social platforms, often at the cost of daily responsibilities, mental health, and relationships. It is particularly prevalent among teens and young adults. Although women tend to self-report a higher addiction to social media than men, recent studies have found that men may be more likely to develop social media addiction than women.

Consequences of Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction is linked to several negative health outcomes, including:

Mental Health Issues: Social media has been shown to increase feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Constant comparison, cyberbullying, and the pressure to portray a perfect life can take a toll on your mental well-being.
Physical Health Problems: Prolonged use of social media can lead to sleep disturbances, headaches, poor posture, and eye strain. The lack of sleep can also contribute to long-term health problems like heart disease and high blood pressure.
Decreased Productivity: Excessive social media use can interfere with work or school performance, affecting productivity, job satisfaction, and long-term career growth.
Impact on relationships: Overuse of social media often leads to isolation, communication breakdowns, and difficulty engaging in meaningful, in-person relationships.

At Chopra & Nocerino, we understand the physical and emotional pain caused by social media addiction. Our legal team is here to help you navigate your recovery, both physically and legally.

Who is Eligible to Join the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit?

If you or your child has been impacted by social media addiction, you may be eligible to join a social media addiction lawsuit. Here are the key factors that determine eligibility:

Your Child Used Social Media Platforms

To be eligible, your child must have used major social media platforms such as:

Snapchat
Snapchat is a popular social media platform among youths, known for its disappearing messages. This feature makes the platform appealing to some sexual predators.
TikTok
TikTok is an incredibly addictive platform that serves users with numerous types of harmful content. Some dangerous challenges include the the Benadryl Challenge, the electrical “outlet challenge”, and the “blackout challenge”
Discord
Discord and Roblox have faced accusations of exploiting vulnerable minors. Despite using Discord's “Keep Me Safe” setting, users faced online threats, revealing gaps in safety measures.
YouTube
YouTube has been found to have addictive algorithms and is facing lawsuits for child-directed content, privacy violations, and harmful material.
Meta
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, provides vibrant digital experiences. However, their algorithms can be quite enticing, often encouraging young users to engage more than intended.

Your Child Developed a Mental Health Disorder

If your child developed a mental health issue, such as anxiety, depression, or body image issues, due to their social media use, you may be eligible for compensation. Mental health disorders caused or worsened by social media addiction often require treatment, and these issues can reduce your child’s overall quality of life.

Your Child Suffered Physical Harm

If your child suffered from physical harm, such as eating disorders, addiction, or self-harm due to their social media usage, this may qualify you to file a lawsuit. These physical injuries often require medical treatment and can lead to long-term consequences.

Social Media Use Led to Academic or Career Decline

If social media addiction led to a decline in academic performance, deteriorating mental health, or negatively impacted your child’s future career prospects, you may have a case. Social media addiction can interfere with concentration, motivation, and overall educational performance, which can affect a young person’s future.

What Is a Mass Tort Lawsuit for Social Media Addiction?

A mass tort lawsuit is a legal action where a large group of individuals file a case against a common defendant (or group of defendants) for similar injuries or damages caused by the same issue. In the case of social media addiction, the victims may be able to hold social media companies accountable for their role in promoting addictive behaviors that have led to mental and physical harm.

By joining a mass tort, you can pool resources with others affected by social media addiction, making it easier to hold these powerful corporations accountable. If you or someone you know has been impacted by social media addiction, you may be eligible to join the mass tort lawsuit.

The Legal Basis of Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

As the harmful effects of social media addiction become increasingly evident, victims of addiction, especially young users, are finding legal avenues to hold social media companies accountable for their role in fostering these addictions. These lawsuits are based on several legal principles:

As social media addiction becomes more prevalent, victims are seeking ways to hold social media companies accountable for their role in fostering these harmful behaviors. Here are the main legal principles behind these lawsuits:

Negligence and Failure to Warn

Social media companies can be held accountable under negligence claims if it’s proven they were aware — or should have been aware — of the addictive nature of their platforms and failed to act.

Social media platforms use features like infinite scroll, notifications, and algorithms designed to maximize user engagement, often at the expense of users’ mental and physical health.
Plaintiffs argue that these platforms have intentionally designed addictive features that increase user dependency.

Consumer Protection Laws

Some cases are based on consumer protection laws, claiming social media companies misled users about the addictive qualities of their platforms.

These laws are intended to protect consumers from unfair or deceptive practices.
Social media platforms are accused of prioritizing profits over the welfare of their users, specifically when it comes to how addiction is fostered through design.

Product Liability

Social media platforms may be held liable under product liability claims.

The claim is that social media is a “product” that should meet specific safety standards, similar to any other consumer product.
The addictive nature of these platforms is seen as a defect that causes psychological harm, especially to vulnerable populations like children and teenagers.

Failure to Protect Vulnerable Users

Many lawsuits assert that social media platforms have failed in their duty of care to protect vulnerable users, particularly minors.

Social media companies are accused of not doing enough to protect young users from harmful content such as cyberbullying, self-harm challenges, and exploitation.
This failure to safeguard users, especially children, can expose these companies to legal action under child protection laws.

Current Regulations on Social Media Addiction

Currently, the regulation of social media addiction is still in its early stages, but state and federal governments are beginning to take action to address these concerns. Some key areas of regulation include:

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): This U.S. federal law restricts the collection of personal information from children under 13, but it does not directly address social media addiction. However, ongoing discussions around the expansion of COPPA may lead to stronger protections for minors who use social media.
Proposed Legislation for Social Media Regulation: Various states, including California and New York, are exploring new laws that would require social media companies to take more responsibility for protecting minors from harmful content and addictive design features. These laws would also mandate better transparency regarding data collection and usage.

While these regulations are a step in the right direction, there is still much work to be done to curb the addictive impact of social media on young users.

Why You Should Choose Chopra & Nocerino, Injury & Accident Attorneys for Social Media Lawsuit Representation

At Chopra & Nocerino, we are committed to fighting for the rights of those who have been affected by social media addiction. Here’s why you should choose us:

Aggressive Legal Representation: We don't settle for less. Our firm will pursue every available option to get the compensation you deserve.
Client-Centered Approach: We treat every client like family and work hard to ensure you get the best possible outcome.
No Win, No Fee: We understand the financial strain that an addiction can cause. You won’t pay us unless we win your case.

If you believe you’ve been harmed by social media addiction, don’t wait. The legal team at Chopra & Nocerino is here to listen to your story and guide you through the legal process. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case. There’s no obligation, and we’re here to provide the answers you need. Since we work on a contingency basis, you don’t pay unless we secure a settlement or verdict in your favor.

FAQs About Social Media Addiction Legal Claims

What kind of compensation can you get if you join the social media addiction lawsuits?

Compensation may include mental health treatment costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages for gross negligence by the social media companies.

Is there a deadline for suing over social media addiction?

Yes, there is typically a statute of limitations (usually two years) to file a personal injury or consumer protection lawsuit. It’s important to act promptly.

What are some possible treatment options for social media addiction?

Treatment options include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), digital detoxes, mindfulness, group therapy, and family therapy. Medication may be used if mental health issues like depression or anxiety coexist.

Take the First Step Toward Justice

Social media addiction is a real problem that affects millions of people across the country. If you or someone you know is struggling, it’s time to hold these companies accountable.

Call us at (855) NYC-HURT or contact us online to learn more about your legal rights and how we can help.

WE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM OF