Facebook and Instagram – both owned by Meta Platforms, Inc. – have connected billions of people. But for many teens and children, these platforms have caused serious harm. If your child suffered issues like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thoughts linked to Instagram or Facebook use, you may have a right to take legal action against Meta. Pritzker Hageman can help families nationwide with lawsuits against Meta, alleging that Facebook and Instagram’s designs are defective and dangerous for young users. Meta had knowledge that its platforms were harming youth and yet continued business as usual. We intend to hold them accountable in court and push for safer social media. We seek justice for the harms done to children and families by addictive and harmful social media apps.

Why Focus on Instagram (and Facebook):

Instagram is often cited as the worst offender when it comes to teen mental health impacts. Unlike some apps, Instagram’s core experience revolves around personal photos, appearance, and lifestyle: fertile ground for unhealthy social comparison. An internal Facebook study (revealed by The Wall Street Journal) found that “We make body image issues worse for 1 in 3 teen girls” on Instagram. That is a stunning admission. Teens reported feeling “addicted” to Instagram, even when it made them feel bad, and felt “unable to stop” using it. Rather than fix the problem, Facebook downplayed it.

Facebook (the platform) itself has fewer minors now, but it was the pioneer in addictive features (the “Like” button, endless news feed scrolling). Both Facebook and Instagram use similar algorithms developed by Meta, and share features (Instagram even added Reels, similar to TikTok, increasing addictive short-video consumption). Meta explicitly targeted young users to boost growth. In fact, a former Instagram VP revealed that in 2016 Facebook ordered employees to win over more teens to the platform, even as younger users were migrating to Instagram. So whether it’s Instagram or Facebook, the corporate strategy was: hook young people early, keep them scrolling, no matter the cost.

Teen Girl Laying on Ben - Anxious About Social Media

Common Types of Harm from Instagram/Facebook:

Eating Disorders & Body Dysmorphia: Instagram is flooded with images of idealized bodies, filtered selfies, and influencer lifestyles. The app’s algorithm can trap teens in an echo chamber of weight-loss tips, “thinspiration” photos, and diet culture. For example, if a teen girl clicks on a fitness model’s post, Instagram’s Explore feed may soon flood her with similar content, some of it extreme. This was the case for one young athlete who developed anorexia – one “innocent search” for healthy recipes led to an avalanche of extreme diet and workout videos on Instagram. Instagram’s design contributes to such disorders by promoting harmful content and causing addiction that makes it hard to break away. Facebook has had groups and pages where dangerous diet advice circulated as well. It’s not unknown for kids to need intensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, or body dysmorphia after their mental health was eroded by constant Instagram comparisons.
Anxiety, Depression & Self-Harm: Both Facebook and Instagram operate on social reward systems (likes, comments) that can significantly affect a young person’s self-esteem. Teens may feel anxiety over how their posts perform, or depression from consuming highlight reels of others’ lives and feeling “not good enough.” Instagram in particular can create FOMO (fear of missing out) and feelings of inadequacy. A 2023 Gallup poll found teens spending more than 3 hours/day on social media (often the case with Instagram users) were much more likely to report depression. Children can become socially withdrawn and in even more serious cases, can start self-harming, or expressing suicidal ideation after months of heavy Instagram use. Notably, Instagram’s content algorithm is known to have even suggested self-harm content to vulnerable teens – something our expert analysis can often trace via account data.
Addiction & Dopamine Loop: Meta’s platforms intentionally exploit psychological triggers. Features like infinite scroll, push notifications (“Your friend posted a new photo!”), and showing who’s viewed your story all serve to pull users back in frequently. Teens can get obsessed with checking Instagram – during class, late at night – leading to sleep deprivation and distraction. Some neuroscience studies indicate social media triggers similar brain pathways as gambling or substance addiction and Meta never put effective limits or warnings despite seeing teens say “we can’t stop ourselves.” Instead, they publicly insisted social media was not harmful, misleading users and parents. We believe Meta should have to pay for addiction-related damages and implement changes (like optional time limits, stronger parental controls by default, etc.).
Cyberbullying & Online Abuse: While user behavior is a factor here, Instagram and Facebook provided tools that could easily amplify bullying. An embarrassing photo can go viral at a school in hours via Instagram. Anonymous questions, group chats excluding one person, or cruel comments – these happen on the platforms. There have been instances where severe bullying on Instagram (or Facebook Messenger among school peers) led a teen to attempt suicide. Our legal argument isn’t that Meta is responsible for every cruel user, but that they failed to moderate known harms (e.g., they have AI to detect nudity for ads, but what about detecting and flagging harassing messages to minors?). Also, features like allowing strangers to DM minors or recommending connections can expose kids to harassment. Meta has made some improvements lately (under pressure), but for many it’s too little, too late.

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Where the Cases Against Meta Stand
(Updated: August 26, 2026)

No company in this litigation has absorbed more legal damage than Meta, and the last six months rewrote the scoreboard.

The approximately $17 billion state settlement. On August 26, 2026, Meta agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by dozens of state attorneys general, filed beginning in 2023, alleging the company knowingly built addictive features that harmed young users. The settlement is reported at approximately $17 billion, and up to $18 billion as additional states and territories participate, one of the largest consumer protection settlements in American history, per NPR and CNBC. It came in the middle of trial, days after jury selection in Oakland. Meta admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to platform changes for teens, including time limits, nighttime restrictions, and stronger age verification. Those state lawsuits included Minnesota’s, whose share of the settlement is reported at more than $200 million.

Read that timing the way a trial lawyer does: Meta litigated this case for nearly three years, then paid a historic sum rather than let a jury hear the evidence to the end.

Nearly $1 billion owed to New Mexico. In a separate case, a Santa Fe jury found in March 2026 that Meta willfully violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law, imposing a $375 million penalty, the first state to beat a major platform at trial, according to the New Mexico Department of Justice. In August 2026, the court added approximately $567 million after the case’s second phase, bringing Meta’s total to roughly $942 million, as reported by PBS News. Meta is appealing both rulings.

The first family verdict. On March 25, 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable in the first individual youth addiction case to reach trial and awarded $6 million including punitive damages. The verdict is on appeal, and it matters for every family’s case: a jury heard the design evidence and found it caused compensable harm. Our analysis: two jury verdicts against Meta and YouTube.

The MDL grinds forward. Meta remains the lead defendant in the federal MDL in California, where roughly 3,100 cases are coordinated. In 2026, Meta and the other platforms settled the first school district bellwether rather than face a Kentucky jury, and early individual bellwether cases have reportedly resolved before trial. New family cases continue to be filed and transferred in.

What none of this changes: your family’s claim. The state settlement pays governments and funds safety programs. It does not compensate injured children, it contains no claim process for families, and it does not release a single family’s lawsuit. If Instagram addiction, eating-disorder content, or exploitation on a Meta platform seriously harmed your child, your family’s individual case remains fully available, and everything above becomes the backdrop a jury would hear. We explain the settlement’s meaning for families in our analysis of the Meta settlement.

How Pritzker Hageman Can Help with Meta Cases:

Our attorneys have the experience and resources to go up against huge companies like Meta. We have experts who can look at your child’s Instagram/Facebook activity and log files to gather evidence:

We can subpoena account data from Meta – which might show usage hours, content engaged with, and any reports/flags (Meta tracks if users report being harassed, etc.). This data helps establish cause and effect.
We work with psychologists who can testify how Instagram’s content likely triggered or exacerbated a clinical disorder in your child.
We connect timeline dots: For example, if your child was doing fine until mid-2020 when they got Instagram, and six months later they’re in therapy for anxiety and an eating disorder, that temporal link is crucial. We strengthen it with expert opinion and possibly the child’s own testimony (if appropriate) about how they felt drawn in by the app.
We keep on top of legal strategy by collaborating with national firms in the MDL (if your case is filed in federal court, it may become part of that MDL). We ensure your family’s voice doesn’t get lost in a large litigation – we give personal attention while also leveraging the resources of the broader effort.

Real World Example: The Koziol Case – In TIME magazine, the story of Caroline Koziol was highlighted. She was a thriving athlete who fell into anorexia after Instagram and TikTok fed her endless content on extreme workouts and dieting during the pandemic. Now she’s one of the plaintiffs suing Meta. This is just one of hundreds of similar stories. Perhaps your child’s story parallels this. By coming forward, Caroline not only seeks justice for herself but hopes to reshape how social media operates. Our firm treats every client’s case with this dual purpose: compensation for the individual and pushing for industry change.

If your son or daughter has been hurt by Instagram or Facebook, don’t hesitate to reach out. Meta must be held accountable for prioritizing engagement over safety. By taking legal action, you’re sending a message that our children are more important than Big Tech’s profits.

Contact us for a Free Case Review regarding an Instagram/Facebook-related harm. We will discuss your specific situation privately and outline a strategy. There are strict time limits (statutes of limitations) for filing these claims – often 1 to 3 years from when harm became apparent, depending on your state – so it’s important to consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still sue Meta after the $17 billion settlement?

Yes. The settlement resolved the states’ claims, not families’ individual lawsuits. Family cases in the federal MDL and state courts continue, new cases are still being filed, and no family’s claim was released by the states’ deal.

Does the settlement mean Meta admitted Instagram harms kids?

No. Meta settled without admitting wrongdoing, which is common in cases of this size. What exists on the record regardless: two 2026 jury findings against Meta, a nearly $1 billion judgment in New Mexico, Meta’s own internal research on teen harm, and a company that paid roughly $17 billion rather than finish a trial.

How do I know if my child’s case qualifies?

We look for serious, documented harm: hospitalization, an eating disorder requiring treatment, self-harm or a suicide attempt, sexual exploitation, or a family’s loss of a child, together with significant use of the platform at a young age. Not every bad experience is a case. The consultation is free.

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Awards & Recognition:

The Pritzker Hageman law firm and our attorneys have been recognized in:

U.S. News & World Report

Pritzker Hageman has been recognized as one of the best law firms for personal injury litigation by U.S. News & World Report every year the award has been given since 2012.