Has social media affected your or your child’s mental health? If you or your child developed a serious mental health condition after heavy social media use, you may be eligible to make a claim. We are investigating whether major social platforms failed to protect children from foreseeable harm. Contact us to learn more »

Hagens Berman EMEA is investigating potential claims concerning the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the UK.

We would like to hear from parents and young people who believe intensive social media use contributed to serious difficulties, such as depression, severe anxiety or eating disorders.

If you believe you or your child has been affected, please fill out the form to contact us »

WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

Millions of children in the UK use social media every day. We are examining whether the design and operation of these platforms, and the way they engage and retain young users, may have caused serious harm.

Our investigation is considering a range of issues, including whether the platforms:

  • took adequate steps to protect children and young people from foreseeable harm
  • provided sufficient safeguards for younger users
  • warned children and parents about the risks of intensive use
  • used features that encourage prolonged or excessive engagement
  • addressed the risks of recommending and amplifying harmful content
  • properly considered the particular vulnerabilities of children

WHICH PLATFORMS ARE INCLUDED?

Our investigation includes major social media platforms used by children and young people, including:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Snapchat
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

The investigation is not limited to a particular platform or type of social media use. If your experience involved a different platform, we would like to hear from you also.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

We are interested in hearing from you if you or your child used social media extensively while under the age of 18 and subsequently was diagnosed with or treated for a serious mental health condition such as depression, severe anxiety or an eating disorder.

If you believe you or your child has been affected, please be in touch as soon as you can. If you are unsure whether you qualify, complete our short form and our team will review your circumstances »

WHY NOW?

Litigation over social media-related harm has moved quickly in the United States. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable in a case brought by a young woman who alleged that the design of Instagram and YouTube contributed to her mental health problems. The jury awarded $6 million in damages. The trial judge subsequently denied the companies’ requests for a new trial, and both Meta and Google have appealed the verdict.

That verdict was reached under U.S. law and does not determine whether similar claims may succeed in the UK. Each case will depend on its own facts and the applicable law. However, evidence emerging from US litigation may be relevant to potential claims in the UK.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS?

Children and young people may have rights when social media companies fail to take reasonable steps to protect them from potential harms. Hagens Berman EMEA is investigating whether these companies failed to adequately protect children and young people from potential risks to their mental health and wellbeing, including through the design and operation of their platforms. Those who believe they or their child may have suffered mental health difficulties associated with social media use may be entitled to seek accountability.

ABOUT HAGENS BERMAN EMEA

Hagens Berman EMEA is a UK law firm and part of Hagens Berman, a leading claimant-side law firm that has achieved total settlements and victories valued at more than $345 billion in the United States against some of the world’s most powerful corporations, including technology companies.

Hagens Berman is currently pursuing litigation against OpenAI concerning allegations that ChatGPT’s design and operation contributed to a tragic death. The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the chatbot failed to implement adequate safeguards and that its responses intensified a user’s mental health crisis. We believe our experience litigating claims of this nature against tech companies will be highly relevant in this case.

DO I NEED TO PAY TO JOIN?

We plan to represent claimants on a no-win no-fee basis. This means there will be no upfront cost to you for pursuing a claim. Should your claim be successful, we would be entitled to a capped percentage of your compensation (25% in personal injury cases).

Should your claim go ahead, we will provide you with a detailed explanation of our fees so you can decide if you want to instruct us to act on your behalf.

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