Mental Health Effects of Instagram on Young Users
Social media companies have grown to become massively influential in the past decade, and issues with how they operate and how users interact with their platforms are starting to become clearer.
Instagram is no exception.
A University of Pennsylvania study suggests that social media use increases depression and loneliness, and data points showed a causal link between time spent on the platforms and decreased well-being.
The study found that participants who limited their social media use to 30 minutes per day experienced significant decreases in loneliness and depression, while those who continued to use social media for more than two hours per day saw no such improvements.
These findings suggest that Instagram and other social media platforms may have a negative impact on mental health, and that users should be aware of the dangers of excessive screen time.
Instagram’s Impact on Young Girls and Women: Social Comparison and Negative Mental Health Impacts
Researchers have found that the way people interact with Instagram can impact their mental health, especially for young girls and women.
While the amount of time spent on Instagram doesn’t necessarily correlate to negative effects, it’s been found that users who seek social validation through the app are more likely to experience mental health problems.
This is likely due to the unique experiences of young users on Instagram, who are often bombarded with images and messages that can be harmful to their self-esteem and body image.
As a result, it’s important for users to be aware of how the app is impacting their mental health and take steps to limit their exposure if necessary.
Social Comparison
Instagram users who engage in status-seeking content and social comparison suffer from mental health issues, depressive symptoms, and unhealthy self centeredness at much higher rates, putting them at further risks for suicide attempts, eating disorders, sleep problems, and a host of other mental health problems related to their Instagram usage.
Internal Facebook researchers have known for years that Instagram is harmful for young users, most notably teenage girls.
Internal research presentations are quoted saying “We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls”, and “Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rate of anxiety and depression.”
An article published by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health expanded on how Instagram leads teens and young adults into a spiral of depression and anxiety.
Bryn Austin, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said that “From experimental research, we know that Instagram, with its algorithmically-driven feeds of content tailored to each user’s engagement patterns, can draw vulnerable teens into a dangerous spiral of negative social comparison and hook them onto unrealistic ideals of appearance and body size and shape.”
Instagram and its Glaring Issues with Sexual Exploitation
Despite its reputation as a relatively safe and family-friendly social media platform, Instagram has become a hotbed for sexual messages, harassment and exploitation of women and young girls.
In recent years, criminal proceedings have gone forward against men who have used Instagram to sexually exploit young girls, but according to Forbes, Instagram has a relatively hard time keeping sexually explicit content off of their platform.
This is due in part to the fact that Instagram allows users to share photos and videos without any review or approval process.
As a result, sexually explicit images and videos can be widely distributed before Instagram is even aware of their existence.
The platform’s reliance on algorithms to determine which content to promote can inadvertently lead to the spread of sexually explicit material.
In light of these problems, it is clear that Instagram needs to do more to protect women and girls from sexual exploitation.
Young People Use Instagram at High Rates
Instagram is incredibly popular among young people in America.
According to Pew Research Center’s 7 Facts About Americans and Instagram:
- Around seven-in-ten Americans ages 18 to 29 (71%) say they ever use Instagram.
- In a spring 2018 survey, roughly seven-in-ten U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 (72%) said they used the site.
- Children ages 11 and younger also engage with Instagram, though in relatively small shares, according to a spring 2020 survey, despite Instagram’s age guidelines which usually restrict children younger than 13 from joining.
- More than 40% of Instagram users are 22 years old or younger.
The image sharing app was mentioned overwhelmingly in the Facebook Files, an investigative series by the Wall Street Journal that published leaked documents and presentations from an internal source at Facebook.
The leaked presentations are linked below:
Findings from the leaked internal documents include the following:
- 66% of teen girls on Instagram experience negative social comparison
- 52% of teen girls who experienced negative social comparison on Instagram said it was caused by images related to beauty
- 32% of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse
- Harm on Instagram falls into three major categories: social comparison, social pressure, and negative interactions with other people
- 82% of teens have felt at least one emotional issue in the past month, and one in five has thought about suicide or self-injury
- The boundary between social media and in person relationships is often blurred, which can negatively impact self esteem and mental health in general.
- Teens blame Instagram for increases in the rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms
- Teenage users who struggle with mental health say that Instagram makes it worse and the positive aspects do not outweigh its negative impacts on self esteem and mental health
What is the Social Media Mental Health MDL?
There have been several class action lawsuits filed against major social media platforms in the past, but this case is very different.
The Social Media Addiction MDL consolidates claims from families across the country whose children have suffered from the harmful effects of social media platforms.
Social media addiction lawsuits focus on the alleged role of platforms like Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and others, whose designs are claimed to foster addictive behaviors, leading to serious mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide.
MDL is a special legal procedure, distinct from class action lawsuits, used when multiple civil cases share common factual issues but involve different individual plaintiffs.
Unlike a class action, where one lawsuit represents a group with similar claims, MDL consolidates cases to streamline pretrial proceedings, allowing each case to remain independent while sharing discovery and avoiding conflicting rulings
This means that individuals who file claims in the Social Media MDL have the opportunity to potentially secure individualized compensation that reflects the unique harm they’ve suffered due to excessive social media use.
The social media mental health lawsuit is an ongoing litigation.
For the most recent updates and developments in the Social Media Lawsuit, this page.
Filing a Lawsuit for Instagram Mental Health Effects: How Can Meta Be Held Liable?
Our team of attorneys is currently investigating the viability of lawsuits against Instagram, Facebook (Meta) alleging harm.
Instagram has been proven to negatively impact adolescent health, contributing to low self esteem issues, social anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, sleep problems, and other lasting emotional scars.
Many of these harms stem from algorithm-driven social media feeds that promote constant comparison, unrealistic beauty standards, and compulsive engagement.
Teens and young adults who become addicted to social media often struggle to disconnect, with studies linking this behavior to worsening academic performance and declining interpersonal relationships.
As social media adolescent addiction becomes more widely recognized, families and individuals are stepping forward to file a social media lawsuit against Meta Platforms and other tech giants.
These lawsuits seek justice for the emotional and psychological toll inflicted by platforms that prioritized growth over user safety.
Potential Damages In an Instagram Mental Health Lawsuit
Damages in these lawsuits refer to any losses, economic or non-economic, incurred as a result of an incident.
In an Instagram Mental Health case, damages could include some of the following:
- Medical treatment costs
- Therapy costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional damage
Other potential damages are possible.
As the legal pressure on Instagram and Facebook (Meta) grows, more damages may become viable in claims for compensation.
Gathering Evidence for an Instagram Mental Health Lawsuit
Evidence plays a critical role in proving Instagram addiction lawsuits claim that the platform was designed to encourage addictive behavior and caused measurable harm to users.
Attorneys must show how prolonged use of Instagram and similar social media apps contributed to emotional, behavioral, or physical harm over time.
This often involves documenting changes in mood, sleep, eating habits, and academic or social functioning.
In more severe cases, evidence may link platform use to suicidal ideation, self-harm, or long-term physical health consequences.
An experienced law firm can help identify, preserve, and present this evidence in a way that supports inclusion in the ongoing litigation.
Evidence in an Instagram mental health lawsuit may include:
- Instagram account data showing frequency, duration, and patterns of use
- Medical and therapy records documenting mental health diagnoses or treatment
- Expert opinions linking Instagram use to addiction-like behavior or emotional decline
- Screenshots or saved posts reflecting exposure to harmful or triggering content
- School or work records showing behavioral changes or performance decline
- Witness statements from parents, teachers, or caregivers
- Evidence of physical harm or physical health effects, such as sleep disruption, disordered eating, or fatigue
TorHoerman Law: Social Media Mental Health Attorneys
TorHoerman Law is actively investigating and accepting new cases in the ongoing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Instagram and other social media platforms.
We are representing individuals and families who believe their severe mental health issues (including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts) were caused or worsened by Instagram use.
The lawsuits allege that social media companies knew their platforms could harm young users, yet continued to design features that prioritized engagement over safety.
Our goal is to help hold social media giants accountable for the harm caused by these addictive platforms, particularly when those harms stem from your child’s social media usage.
As the litigation against Meta Platforms progresses, we are prepared to help clients build strong, evidence-based claims that reflect the emotional and psychological toll of these practices.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to the effects of Instagram and other social media platforms, you may qualify to join this active legal action.
Contact us today for a free consultation or use the chatbot on this page to see if you qualify instantly.
