Can You Sue Instagram for Being Too Addictive?
Complete the form below to see if you qualify for a Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
You may be able to sue Instagram if you developed an addiction to Instagram before you turned 18 years old and your addiction significantly harmed your mental health. Parents and young adults are suing Instagram alleging that addiction to the platform led to things like suicidality, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and self-harm behaviors.
Many parents and teens are learning that addiction to Instagram may have led to psychological and mental health disorders. If you think that Instagram addiction led to you or your minor child’s mental health issues, you may be able to sue Instagram. However, determining if you might be able to sue Instagram is complex and depends on multiple factors. An experienced attorney can help you understand who might qualify and what evidence is needed to build an Instagram addiction case.
About Suing Instagram for Addiction
Who May Qualify to Sue Instagram?
When Does Instagram Addiction Become Grounds for a Lawsuit?
Is Spending Too Much Time on Instagram Enough Reason to Sue Meta?
What Harm Would a Social Media Addiction Lawyer Look For?
What Would You Be Suing Instagram for Doing?
Can You Sue Instagram If You Are an Adult Now?
Can Parents Sue Instagram for Their Child’s Addiction?
How Do You Show Instagram Addiction Contributed to Your Diagnosis?
Contact Robert King Law Firm About an Instagram Addiction Claim
Who May Qualify to Sue Instagram?
Not everyone who becomes addicted to Instagram will qualify to file a claim. The mass litigation against social media companies, like Instagram’s parent company Meta, currently focuses on injuries to minors.
You may qualify to sue Instagram if:
- You started using Instagram before you were 18 years old
- You started using Instagram compulsively or obsessively (e.g., three or more hours per day)
- You experienced a serious mental-health injury, such as an eating disorder, depression, self-harm, or suicidal behavior.
- You are filing a claim within the applicable statute of limitations (i.e., lawsuit filing deadlines)
If you think you or your child meet these criteria and you are interested in learning more about filing a lawsuit, our firm can answer your questions and help you understand your options.
When Does Instagram Addiction Become Grounds for a Lawsuit?
Someone suffering from Instagram addiction may have legal grounds for a lawsuit depending on how often the person uses Instagram, their age when they began using it, and how it has impacted their life and well-being. An Instagram addiction attorney may use the following questions to determine if someone has grounds for a lawsuit:
- How old were you when you started using Instagram and other social media apps?
- How often do you use Instagram? Do you use Instagram 3 or more hours a day?
- Has content shown to you on Instagram affected your everyday life (e.g., has it led to increased anxiety, self-harm, or disordered eating)?
- What treatment or diagnosis have you received because of your Instagram use?
- Have you been diagnosed with or suffered from symptoms of body dysmorphia, an eating disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidality, or other mental health conditions?
If you are suing Instagram for addiction-related injuries, you would need to show evidence that your addiction led to off-screen harm (such as suicidality, self-harm, depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder). An attorney can help you gather the evidence needed to see if you qualify to file an addiction lawsuit against Instagram.
Is Spending Too Much Time on Instagram Enough Reason to Sue Meta?
Spending too much time on Instagram is one part of the eligibility requirements to bring a case against Instagram. However, your Instagram use must be compulsive or excessive (e.g., more than 3 hours a day) and be related to off-screen harm. For example, you may qualify to sue Instagram if you used Instagram 3 or more hours a day and were treated for a severe mental health condition. However, not everyone who uses Instagram for too much will be able to (or want to) pursue legal action against Meta.
What Harm Would a Social Media Addiction Lawyer Look For?
A social media addiction lawyer might look for evidence of the following harm and how it could be connected to your Instagram use:
- Eating disorder (e.g., bulimia, anorexia, or extreme dieting)
- Body dysmorphia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-harm
- Suicidal behavior (including suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts)
Your lawyer will also want to know when symptoms of an Instagram addiction began, how old you were at the time, if it got worse with continued Instagram use, if you received treatment, and how using Instagram impacted the rest of your life. However, you do not need to have all these details ready before contacting an attorney. An attorney experienced in social media addiction lawsuits can help you gather evidence to find these dates and diagnoses at a later date if they take on your Instagram addiction case.
What Would You Be Suing Instagram for Doing?
Some of the allegations that people and attorneys general have made against Instagram and its parent company, Meta, include the following:
- Designing Instagram to be addictive and encourage compulsive use by young people
- Misleading consumers about the safety of young people and children on Instagram
- Using user data to create a personalized algorithm to recommend content that keeps users on Instagram longer than they intend to be
- Illegally collecting and using children’s data without parental consent
- Using addictive features to keep young people on Instagram for longer than they intend or wish to
Instagram and Meta have also been criticized for allegedly not doing more to keep young people and children from being exposed to harmful and inappropriate content. An attorney can help you determine what claims you may be able to pursue against Instagram for its role in your social media addiction.
What Can You Actually Sue Instagram For?
As a potential plaintiff in an Instagram addiction lawsuit, you may be wondering what you can actually sue a large social media company for. If you file an Instagram addiction claim, you are not simply alleging that Meta made an addictive product that affected children. You are alleging that Instagram’s addictive properties were at least partially responsible for your or your child’s mental health injuries. Your lawsuit would allege that Meta’s conduct caused or contributed to an injury and that compensation is in order. Your lawsuit may seek damages for things like mental health services, doctor’s bills, treatment expenses, pain and suffering, lost income or earning capacity, and other damages.
Case Example of Someone Suing Instagram
In 2023, a woman known by the initial K.G.M. sued Meta (Instagram) and other social media companies for injuries caused by Instagram and other social media platforms. K.G.M.’s lawsuit alleged that Instagram features like infinite scrolling, algorithmic recommendations, and auto-play videos contributed to her addiction. Her case was part of coordinated social media litigation in California state court. The case went to trial, and on March 25, 2026, the jury found that Meta was partially liable for K.G.M.’s injuries. The jury awarded her $6 million, of which Meta was liable for $4.2 million.
Can You Sue Instagram If You Are an Adult Now?
You may be able to sue Instagram if you are an adult and you developed an addiction to Instagram when you were under 18. You may also have to have proof that your Instagram addiction injured you before you were 18, such as causing you to suffer from depression or an eating disorder when you were in high school, middle school, or elementary school. However, Instagram mental health lawsuits are nuanced, and each law firm has its own eligibility criteria. Your lawyer may ask you questions about timeframes for when you started using Instagram, when you started using it compulsively, what symptoms you experienced, and how old you were when you received a mental health diagnosis. You can talk to an attorney to see whether your situation qualifies you to file a lawsuit against Instagram.
Can Parents Sue Instagram for Their Child’s Addiction?
A parent or guardian may be able to sue Instagram on behalf of their child if the applicable state law allows it and their child meets the firm’s eligibility criteria to bring an addiction claim. States have rules about when a parent or guardian can sue on behalf of a minor and when someone is no longer a minor (typically 18). Parents and guardians would still need to file their child’s Instagram addiction lawsuit before the applicable statute of limitations (filing deadline) expires.
How Do You Show Instagram Addiction Contributed to Your Diagnosis?
You or your attorney will need evidence to prove that using Instagram caused or contributed to your social media addiction and related injuries. Here are some examples of possible sources of evidence and how those could be used in your Instagram case:
| Evidence to discuss with a lawyer | What it may help document |
|---|---|
| Instagram account history and available app-usage records | When you started using Instagram, how often you used it, and how your Instagram use changed over time |
| Records of parental restrictions or attempts to pause or reduce your Instagram use | Evidence of withdrawal symptoms, such as increased anxiety, depression, or self-harm |
| Medical, therapy, and hospital records | Proof of symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment of an Instagram addiction or related symptoms |
| School records and observations from family members | How Instagram use and addiction impacted your academics, well-being, and relationships with family and friends. |
An attorney can review your case and help you understand if you may qualify to sue Instagram or its parent company, Meta. You do not need to have the above evidence before you meet with a lawyer about your Instagram addiction claim. During the initial consultation, the attorney may only need enough information to understand who you are, how long you used Instagram, and how you believe it impacted you. If they take on your Instagram claim, they can help you request and locate evidence later and bring your case before the filing deadline expires.
Contact Robert King Law Firm About an Instagram Addiction Claim
To learn more about whether you can file an Instagram addiction claim, call Robert King Law Firm today at (585) 496-2648 or fill out an online contact form. Our intake specialists are happy to answer your questions and help you understand if you meet our firm’s requirements to sue Instagram.