Talk to Us If You or Your Child or Teen Was Harmed By Addictive Social Media Apps

Tech Companies Target Our Kids

We all know that kids are impressionable. Technology is powerful, and we know now that social media algorithms are fine tuned to respond to what individual users crave in order to keep them using the platform as much as possible. This is not a good thing for children.

Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat and other apps are used excessively by countless millions of minors whose brains are still developing. While we all want to feel accepted and connected to others, many young people experience the opposite on social media. Over time, a desire for social closeness is easily derailed by an expansive downside that can include:

• Compulsive app-checking and hours of daily use

• Unrealistic comparisons to influencers and those deemed more popular and attractive, which can lead to problems with self-esteem and body image

• Harassment, bullying and sexual exploitation

• A loss of sleep and productivity, which can affect academics and psychological and physical health

Not surprisingly, it is now being asserted in courts across the country that the large tech companies that own and operate these major platforms failed to warn users about the harmful effects of their products, which have been shown to have been carefully engineered to be addictive to children.

Consult An Attorney for Instagram and SnapChat Addiction Cases

After years of deflection, denial and gaslighting regarding our kids, it appears that the start of a social media reckoning is finally here. In January 2026, TikTok agreed to settle a large lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Numerous mental health lawsuits have been filed against against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, and other well-known defendants.

At Great Plains Injury Law in Minneapolis, we have handled many cases involving defective and dangerous products as well as sensitive cases of abuse against minors. We bring this important combination of experience to bear in seeking justice for kids victimized by tech companies who knowingly engineer their social media apps to be highly addictive, all for the sake of profit. We are here to fight for the rights of victims in matters involving:

• Anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions requiring treatment

• Suicidal ideation and self-harmful behaviors

• The connection between social media use, body dysmorphia and eating disorders

• Algorithms that strategically target and ensnare young people into constant use on their phones — even during school

• Excessive use of the highly addictive TikTok app by younger teens and preteens

Get Your Questions Answered by a Minnesota Lawyer For TikTok and Meta Lawsuits

Our firm can answer important questions about social media addiction and your legal rights, like:

• What harmful features have been found in Facebook and Instagram?

• Can I sue Instagram or SnapChat for emotional distress?

• Can you really sue for social media addiction? How serious do my mental health symptoms need to be for me to qualify?

• What does it take to bring a successful lawsuit against Meta and other powerful tech companies that engineered highly addictive products that target children?

• Can I receive compensation for anxiety or depression related to my social media use?

• In Minnesota, what Instagram, Meta, TikTok (ByteDance) and SnapChat lawsuits are happening?

• What if I was harmed by social media as a minor but I’m an adult now?

• What do I have to do to join an Instagram lawsuit?

• Do I need medical treatment records to show I was harmed by Instagram or other apps?

• How much is the typical payout in a social media addiction lawsuit?

Experienced Minneapolis Social Media Attorney: Adolescent Anxiety, Depression and Eating Disorders Related to App Use

The addictive nature of social media apps is not an unfortunate accident. Accountability for social media companies is fast becoming a reality. Every situation is different, so talk to an attorney if you or your child suffered mental health harm from extensive social media use.

Please call us at 612-877-6400 or email us. The consultation is free and confidential. Social media addiction lawsuit lawyer Patrick R. Burns is licensed to practice in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

"After contacting many law firms that were unwilling to take my case, I was referred to Patrick. At our first meeting, he was open and candid with me about the legal process, taking time to hear the details of my situation and explaining all of my legal options in a clear and concise manner. 

Patrick validated everything I went through. He heard me and was my voice, and kept my best interests in mind the entire time. I highly recommend him as legal counsel." — Kacey