Millions of people use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram in their day-to-day lives to communicate with loved ones, conduct businesses, study courses online, and even for entertainment purposes. Although these online platforms has its advantages, it also has some adverse negative effects. For instance, overuse and addiction to social media can cause potential mental health problems like depression, self-harm, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and body dysmorphia.
You can feel deflated when you compare your own real life to the posts and highlight reels that other people post on the platform as a representation of their lives. Unfortunately, these negative emotions are not always fleeting feelings of sadness or jealousy because they can develop into mental health disorders that can prevent someone from being productive or functioning in more substantial ways. For instance, researchers have linked excessive usage of social platforms to anxiety and depression. For example, according to research published in the International Journal of Adolescence and Youth in 2020, overexposure to online platforms was linked with anxiety, depression, and psychological stress.
Addiction
Sometimes, a person can become addicted to these online social platforms. An addict continues to use the different platforms even after the exposure starts to negatively impact their lives. A person is considered an addict when they are glued to their phone during real-world activities and social interactions and chooses to scroll on online platforms instead of taking part in the activities they used to love and enjoy. An addict may also become sleep deprived as a result of late-night scrolling or may develop disordered eating patterns due to poor body image or unhealthy advice from influencers. Other addiction symptoms include low self-esteem caused by comparing your reality with the heavily edited and filtered versions of reality that other people choose to post.
Can I file a lawsuit?
At the moment, lawsuits against social platforms are becoming more prevalent. For example, in recent years, lawsuits have been filed against Meta Platforms Inc, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, for the harm it has caused to children, teenagers, and young adults who were suffering from social media overexposure and addiction.
The lawsuits were partly due to the testimony of former data scientist Frances Haugen, who testified that Meta Platforms Inc was not only controlling the youth for profit but was also making algorithm changes that rewarded engagement and in turn amplified the spread of sensational content and misinformation, as NPR reported. Therefore, you can file a social media lawsuit against the responsible party for the harm you have suffered. However, since filing a lawsuit against these companies for mental health problems and addiction is an evolving area of law, figuring out your legal options in this area can be challenging.
Conclusion
You should consult a lawyer who can assist you to know and understand the different avenues of seeking justice for the harm you have experienced from using these platforms. Since every case is different, an attorney can help you determine whether you have a case and how to proceed in filing a lawsuit against the platforms.