FAQ: Who Are the Defendants in the Social Media Lawsuit?

Who are the Defendants in the Social Media Lawsuit?

The defendants in the social media lawsuit include some of the largest tech companies in the world.

These platforms are facing allegations that their products created an addiction to technology among teens and young adults, resulting in various mental health issues.

Defendants in the Social Media Lawsuit include:

• Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc.): As one of the pioneers of social media, Facebook has grown into one of the world’s largest and most influential social media sites.
• Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc.): Instagram, a subsidiary of Facebook, is a visually-driven platform that has gained immense popularity among teenagers and young adults.
• TikTok (ByteDance): TikTok, known for its short-form video content, has quickly become a cultural phenomenon.
• Snapchat (Snap Inc.): Snapchat is another platform that has gained popularity among young users due to its disappearing photo and video messages.
• YouTube (Google): YouTube is a video-sharing platform widely used by people of all ages.
• Google: Google is the parent company of YouTube and has a wide range of products, including search engines, cloud storage services, and Android devices.

General Facts in the Social Media Lawsuit Master Complaint

The master complaint against the social media platforms outlines a set of general factual allegations applicable to all defendants.

These allegations paint a comprehensive picture of the harm caused by the products and the alleged intentional design choices that have contributed to the mental health crisis among young users.

Factual Allegations as to Meta Platforms, Inc.

The master complaint spells out several factual allegations concerning Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

These allegations include:

• Meta intentionally encourages youth to use its products and then leverages that usage to increase revenue: The lawsuit alleges that Meta Platforms targets young users to generate higher revenues.
• Meta intentionally designed product features to addict children and adolescents: The lawsuit claims that Facebook and Instagram algorithms prioritize engagement over user well-being, leading to addictive behavior.
• Meta has concealed from Plaintiffs, the public, and Congress the harmful effects of Instagram’s and Facebook’s designs on children: The lawsuit accuses Meta Platforms of deliberately concealing the adverse effects of their platforms on young users’ mental health.
• Meta facilitates the spread of CSAM and child exploitation: The lawsuit claims that Meta Platforms has failed to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platforms.
• Meta failed to adequately warn Plaintiffs or Consortium Plaintiffs about the dangers and harms caused by Instagram and Facebook or provide instructions regarding safe use: The lawsuit asserts that Meta Platforms did not adequately inform users about the potential risks associated with using Facebook and Instagram.

Factual Allegations as to Snap, Inc.

Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., is also a defendant in the master complaint of several specific factual allegations.

The allegations against this company include:

• Snap targets children: The lawsuit claims that Snap Inc. has intentionally targeted children to grow its user base and revenue.
• Snapchat is designed to addict children through psychological manipulation: The lawsuit contends that Snapchat’s design relies on psychological manipulation to encourage compulsive use and addictive behavior.
• Snap designed Snapchat with features that harm children directly or expose them to harm: The lawsuit alleges that its design features can potentially harm young users and expose them to dangerous situations. These features include disappearing Snaps, My Eyes Only, Snap Map, Quick Add, lenses and filters, and more.
• Snap has implemented ineffective and misleading parental controls, further endangering children: The lawsuit alleges that Snap Inc.’s inadequate parental control measures fail to protect young users.
• Snap facilitates the spread of CSAM and child exploitation: The lawsuit claims that Snap Inc. has not taken adequate steps to prevent the spread of CSAM on its platform.
• Snap failed to adequately warn Plaintiffs about the harms its product causes or provide instructions regarding safe use: The lawsuit asserts that Snap Inc. did not sufficiently warn users about the potential risks associated with using Snapchat.

Factual Allegations as to ByteDance

ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, is also named in the Social Media Lawsuit.

This company is facing the following allegations:

• ByteDance intentionally encourages youth to use its product and then leverages it to increase revenue: The lawsuit alleges that ByteDance targets young users to drive engagement and revenue.
• ByteDance intentionally designed product features to addict children and adolescents: The lawsuit claims that TikTok’s design features promote addictive behavior among young users.
• ByteDance facilitates the spread of CSAM and child exploitation: As with other defendants, the lawsuit alleges that ByteDance has not taken adequate measures to prevent the spread of CSAM on its platform.
• ByteDance failed to adequately warn Plaintiffs about the harms its product causes or to provide instructions regarding safe use: The lawsuit asserts that ByteDance did not sufficiently inform users about the potential risks associated with using TikTok.

Factual Allegations as to Alphabet Inc.

The master complaint also includes factual allegations against Alphabet Inc., the parent company of YouTube and Google.

These allegations include:

• Google intentionally encourages youth to use YouTube and then leverages that use to increase revenue: The lawsuit alleges that Google knowingly targets young users to drive engagement and revenue on YouTube.
• Google intentionally designed product features to addict children and adolescents: The lawsuit claims that YouTube’s design features contribute to addictive behavior and excessive screen time among young users.
• Google facilitates the spread of CSAM and child exploitation: The lawsuit alleges that Google has not adequately prevented the spread of CSAM on YouTube.
• Google failed to adequately warn Plaintiffs about the harm its products cause or provide instructions regarding safe use: The lawsuit asserts that Google did not sufficiently warn users about the potential risks associated with using YouTube.

Overview of the Social Media Lawsuit

In these social media lawsuits, various plaintiffs, including young individuals, parents, and schools, seek redress for the alleged harm these platforms have caused.

The litigation aims to shed light on these major tech companies’ practices and design choices that may have contributed to young users’ mental and emotional health issues.

The social media giants seek the dismissal of the lawsuits.

They maintain that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects them from liability for user-generated content.

They also argue that allowing these lawsuits will open the door to a flood of other legal action against tech companies.

However, several courts have allowed some of the claims in these lawsuits to proceed.

This decision means that the social media mental health lawsuit litigation has become a critical battle for holding tech companies accountable and protecting young users from potential harm caused by their products.

Social Media Addiction Lawsuit: Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Vs. Class Action Lawsuits

Two legal strategies often come into play when many similar cases emerge: multidistrict litigation (MDL) and class action lawsuits.

The class action approach allows for consolidating similar suits, streamlining the legal process, and facilitating efficient resolution.

On the other hand, MDL enables a large group of plaintiffs to seek damages for similar claims, ensuring that their voices are heard individually and their grievances addressed.

There is no class action lawsuit in the social media mental health cases.

However, several cases have been consolidated into an MDL.

This approach enables plaintiffs to join forces against powerful tech companies while maintaining their individual cases, unlike class action lawsuits where individual plaintiffs merge their cases into one lawsuit.

Injuries Suffered by Young People From Excessive Social Media Use

The Pew Research Center reports that teenagers aged 13 to 17 are among the most active social media users, with 95% having access to a smartphone and using the internet daily.

Excessive social media usage among teenagers can lead to physical, emotional, and psychological harm that affects their real-life conditions.

Some of the potential mental health effects of teen social media addiction include the following:

• Depression and depressive symptoms
• Anxiety
• Body dysmorphia
• Suicidal ideation
• Eating disorders
• Other mental and physical injuries

Depression

Excessive social media use has an increased risk of depression among young users.

The constant exposure to carefully curated images and lifestyles on social media platforms can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, contributing to depressive symptoms.

Researchers studying a social media phenomenon called “Facebook depression” found preteens to young adults that spend time on social media sites excessively begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another significant mental health issue associated with excessive social media use.

The pressure to present an idealized version of oneself and the fear of missing out (FOMO) on social events and trends can lead to heightened social anxiety and stress levels.

This fear causes unhealthy social media habits, such as obsessively checking notifications, that lead to even more anxiety.

Body Dysmorphia

Social media platforms often showcase unrealistic beauty standards, contributing to body dysmorphia, negative self-perception, and social comparison.

Constant exposure to edited and filtered images can distort users’ perceptions of their own bodies, leading to body dissatisfaction and damaging self-worth.

This misperception can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as restrictive dieting and binging, that have long-term consequences such as eating disorders and unhealthy relationships with food.

Suicidal Ideation

Excessive social media use increases the risk of suicidal ideation and self-harm among adolescents and young adults.

The CDC reports that suicide rates among youth and young adults aged 10 to 24 surged by 52.2% between 2000 to 2021.

Cyberbullying, online harassment, and negative social interactions on these platforms can contribute to increased feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Eating Disorders

Social media’s emphasis on appearance and body image can contribute to developing eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Young people may often see harmful content that promotes unhealthy eating habits and extreme weight loss.

They also may be more likely to compare themselves to others on social media, leading to feelings of inadequacy and driving them toward unhealthy behaviors, which lead to severe physical and psychological harm that requires professional treatment.

Other Injuries

Social media addiction also causes other physical and mental health issues, including headaches, neck pain, eye strain, poor sleep quality, and decreased academic performance.

It can also impair social interactions in real-life settings, making young people choose to spend time with their “friends” online rather than forming meaningful connections with people in the real world.

It can also lead to decreased physical activity, resulting in obesity and other severe medical conditions.

TorHoerman Law: Investigating the Social Media Lawsuit

TorHoerman Law and our associated law firms are investigating the potential litigation against social media companies.

We understand the detrimental effects social media can have on young people and how these massive companies have evaded responsibility for their part in the mental suffering of some teenage users.

We are currently investigating and strategizing how to effectively move forward with legal action

If you or a loved one have experienced mental health issues due to excessive social media use, seek legal advice and explore your options.

TorHoerman Law is here to provide assistance and guidance through the legal process.

Contact TorHoerman Law today for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the social media harm lawsuit instantly.