Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction refers to a person’s inability to disengage from social media. They may feel a compulsive urge to constantly check and refresh apps like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.

Many social media platforms also feature algorithm-based “endless scroll” interfaces that continuously serve users with fresh content as long as they remain in the app.

Social media addiction is not formally recognized in the DSM-5, the book doctors use to diagnose mental health conditions in the United States, but multiple studies have established it as a phenomenon. According to a 2024 study published in the journal Cureus, social media addiction typically includes:

• Excessive screentime
• Compulsive app checking
• Detrimental effects on real-life relationships

The study noted that social media addiction is driven in part by “technological mechanisms like infinite scrolling and personalized notifications.”

Other potential problems that may arise from social media addiction include avoiding personal and professional obligations and feeling significant anxiety when unable to access social media.

Up to 95% of children ages 13 to 17 use social media in some capacity, with more than a third saying they use it almost constantly. As many as 20% of teens could be experiencing social media addiction.

Social media use can have a profound impact on your mental health. One review found that use of these apps is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression.

One notable takeaway is that users are often aware of the impact social media is having, even as they continue to use it.

The Pew Research Center found in 2025 that 1 in 5 teens believe that social media hurts their mental health. Nearly half of teens also said they spend too much time on social media, up significantly from 36% in 2022.

Parents also view social media as a significant threat, with 44% saying they believe social media use is the one thing that most negatively impacts their child’s mental health.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on social media and youth mental health. Advisories are typically used to call public attention to an urgent health issue.

It determined that, while social media can have some benefits for young users, “there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

One specific concern highlighted was the potential for issues when a young, developing brain is repeatedly exposed to social media. It could heighten the child’s sensitivity to the impacts of social rewards and punishments.

“Adolescent social media use is predictive of a subsequent decrease in life satisfaction for certain developmental stages, including for girls 11–13 years old and boys 14–15 years old,” the advisory states.

Legal scrutiny against the tech giants behind popular social media platforms has steadily increased in recent years. Questions have arisen surrounding what companies knew about the potentially addictive nature of their products.

Meta, Google, Snap and TikTok are now facing thousands of lawsuits filed by state attorneys general, school districts and individual families who claim documents show that these companies intentionally designed their apps to addict users, despite being aware of the negative mental health impact. These cases have been grouped together in a social media multidistrict litigation.

The master complaint for thousands of social media addiction lawsuits says leaked internal documents revealed that Meta’s own researchers found that 40% of Instagram users who reported feeling unattractive said that feeling started when they began using the app.

That research also found that 32% of teen girls who already felt bad about their bodies felt worse after using the app.

So far, only one social media lawsuit brought by an individual has advanced to trial. That case involved a young woman who claimed that she began using Instagram and YouTube at a young age and was left with severe mental health issues.

In a landmark moment, the jury found that Meta and Google had been negligent and ordered the companies to pay her a combined $6 million.

While a global social media addiction settlement has not been reached, some companies have moved to settle some individual cases.

In May 2026, several social media companies agreed to pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a Kentucky school district claiming that social media has fueled a mental health crisis among the nation’s youth and left schools to deal with the costs.

Lawyers continue to accept new social media lawsuits as this litigation expands.

Social Media Bans Grow Globally

While the United States has not taken any action on a social media ban in response to mental health concerns, other countries are already making changes.

In December 2025, Australia restricted users under the age of 16 from using social media. A similar ban is being weighed in Canada.

The United Kingdom is also nearing a ban on users under 16 that could take effect as soon as 2027.

While there is no U.S. ban under serious consideration, tech giants are currently facing a major trial in a lawsuit brought by multiple states. The verdict could reshape social media.