The Increasing Issues of Social Media Addiction
Social media has become less of a hobby and more of a necessity. We use these platforms to stay connected with friends and family, to learn about the world, and to express ourselves.
However, social media can also be addictive. When we use social media too much, it can harm our mental and physical health, our relationships, and our productivity.
There is a growing worry about the dangers of social media addiction. Many scholarly studies show that social media use can lead to anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, sleep deprivation, reduced productivity, relationship problems, and increased risk of suicide.
Social media companies are aware of the harms of addiction, but they continue to design their platforms to maximize engagement, even if it means putting users at risk. These brands are free from liability for the content shared on their platforms. Still, they may be held liable for social media addictions if they can be shown to have known about the risks of addiction and failed to take reasonable steps to mitigate them.
The Dangers of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook Addiction
Some Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook addiction symptoms include:
Anxiety
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are the primary source of anxiety for many people. When we compare our lives to the curated images and stories that we see on social media, it can make us lose our perception of self-worth. In turn, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, and low self-esteem.
Depression
Social media platforms can also be a trigger for depressive symptoms. Being constantly bombarded with negative news and images can make us feel down and hopeless, leading to sadness, loneliness, and despair.
Increased Risk of Suicide
Suicide attempts correlating with social media use are an alarming trend. For example, a University of Pittsburgh study notes people using social media for more than a couple of hours per day are more likely to attempt to take their life than those who use these platforms for less than one hour a day.
Above are just some of the concerns of social media addiction. If you display signs of Facebook addiction or Instagram addiction, it is vital to seek help. Several resources can help you manage your social media use and protect yourself from addiction.
How Social Media Companies Can Be Held Liable for TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram Addiction
While social media companies are not legally responsible for the content shared on their platforms, they may be liable for your addiction if they knew about the risks and failed to take reasonable measures to prevent them. For example, if a social media company uses algorithms to amplify harmful content, it may become responsible for the resulting mental and physical health problems.
Recently, several lawsuits have been filed against social media companies alleging that they are responsible for the social media addictions their users experience. These lawsuits are still pending, but they could potentially impact the way social media companies operate.
Make Social Media Companies Pay
CaseyGerry is fighting to hold social media companies accountable for the social media addictions of their users. We believe that social media companies should protect their users from addiction, and we commit time and resources to hold them answerable for their actions.
If you or someone you know needs Facebook or Instagram addiction help, we encourage you to join us in our fight. We need your help to make social media companies take responsibility for the harm they are causing.
You can join our fight by:
- Signing up for a free social media addiction case consultation
- Sharing your story about Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram addiction
- Spreading the word about the dangers of social media addiction
Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for your support.
Contact Our Facebook Addiction Lawyers
Updates:
Social Media Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP)
A CNN feature called, ‘Wired for Trouble’ follows the plight of three families suing Social Media companies, Meta, Snapchat and TikTok for exposing their children to harmful content leading to depression, eating disorders and suicide.
The parents featured are just three of many who are now in a consolidated lawsuit against the biggest Social Media companies in the world – the Social Media Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP), which wants to hold these companies accountable for encouraging social media addiction in young users despite knowledge of the potential harmful effects.
Frederick Schenk, CaseyGerry partner and head of the firm’s Mass Torts practice, was appointed to the plaintiffs’ steering committee in the JCCP. CaseyGerry is the only San Diego based law firm representing individuals in the JCCP lawsuit.
The story follows the stories of these three families as they describe how easily their children were sucked into the dangers of social media due to algorithms designed to keep users engaged, the ease with which they accessed harmful content and the unfortunate results of their social media use. Now, these families and the hundreds of others continue to fight social media companies hiding behind Section 230 which protects these companies from liability, to protect all those at risk from the same social media dangers.
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