Can I Sue Social Media Companies for My Teen’s Mental Health? (UK)

Your teenager has been struggling with anxiety, depression, or self-harm — and you’re convinced social media played a significant role. With mounting evidence linking platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to youth mental health crises, UK parents are asking whether legal action is possible.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

The Growing Evidence

Research increasingly links social media use to youth mental health problems:

• Internal Facebook documents (the “Facebook Files”) showed the company knew Instagram was harmful to teenage girls
• Studies link heavy social media use to increased rates of depression and anxiety
• Algorithmic recommendations can expose vulnerable teens to harmful content including self-harm and eating disorder material
• Features like infinite scroll, notifications, and streaks are designed to maximise engagement, potentially creating addictive patterns
• Cyberbullying facilitated by platforms has been linked to self-harm and suicide

UK Legal Framework

Online Safety Act 2023

This landmark legislation imposes duties on social media platforms to:

• Protect children from harmful content
• Prevent children accessing age-inappropriate material
• Provide age-appropriate experiences for child users
• Be transparent about risks to children

Ofcom enforces these duties and can impose substantial fines. Whilst the Act doesn’t create a direct private right of action, breaches may support negligence claims by establishing the standard of care platforms should meet.

Negligence

A negligence claim requires proving:

1. Duty of care: The platform owed your child a duty
2. Breach: They fell below the required standard
3. Causation: Their breach caused the harm
4. Damage: Your child suffered recognised harm

UK courts have been cautious about finding tech companies owe duties of care, but this area is evolving rapidly, particularly following the Online Safety Act.

Consumer Protection Act 1987

If social media platforms or their algorithms can be characterised as defective “products,” strict liability might apply. This is untested but being explored by legal academics.

Data Protection (UK GDPR)

Platforms must process children’s data lawfully. The Children’s Code (Age Appropriate Design Code) requires them to:

• Default to high privacy settings for children
• Not use children’s data in ways detrimental to their wellbeing
• Turn off features that encourage extended use

Breaches may give rise to compensation claims under UK GDPR.

When You May Have a Claim

A claim may be stronger if:

• Your child developed a diagnosed mental health condition
• There’s clear evidence of heavy platform use during a critical period
• The platform exposed them to harmful content (self-harm, eating disorders, suicide)
• Algorithms actively recommended increasingly harmful material
• Cyberbullying occurred and reports were ignored
• Age verification was inadequate (child under 13 accessed adult content)
• You can document the timeline linking platform use to mental health decline

When It’s More Difficult

Claims face significant challenges when:

• Mental health issues predated social media use
• Multiple factors contributed (making causation hard to isolate)
• Platform use was moderate and age-appropriate
• The platform can show it complied with relevant codes and laws
• Parental controls were available but not used
• Evidence of platform use and content exposure is limited

The Coroner’s Inquest Pathway

In tragic cases involving suicide, coroner’s inquests have proven powerful:

• The inquest into Molly Russell’s death found Instagram and Pinterest contributed to her suicide
• Coroners can issue Prevention of Future Deaths reports requiring platforms to respond
• Inquest findings can support subsequent civil claims

Potential Remedies

If successful, you may be entitled to:

• General damages: Compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity
• Special damages: Costs of treatment, therapy, and care
• Future losses: Ongoing treatment needs and impact on education/career
• UK GDPR compensation: For data protection breaches

Steps to Take

1. Preserve evidence: Screenshot content, save messages, document your child’s account activity before anything is deleted
2. Keep medical records: Ensure diagnoses, treatments, and professional opinions are documented
3. Make Subject Access Requests: Request all data the platforms hold about your child under UK GDPR
4. Report to Ofcom: If you believe the platform breached Online Safety Act duties
5. Report to ICO: For data protection concerns, especially around children’s data
6. Seek specialist legal advice: These cases require solicitors with expertise in both personal injury and technology law
7. Consider group litigation: UK law firms are exploring group actions against social media companies

Frequently Asked Questions

Has anyone successfully sued social media companies in the UK?

Large-scale successful civil claims are still emerging. However, coroner’s findings (like in the Molly Russell case) have established that platforms can bear responsibility. Group litigation is being organised, and the legal landscape is shifting rapidly post-Online Safety Act.

My child is over 18 now — can they still claim?

The limitation period for personal injury claims is generally 3 years from when the claimant knew (or should have known) about the injury and its cause. For injuries during childhood, time typically runs from their 18th birthday, giving them until age 21. Each case differs, so seek advice promptly.

Do I need evidence my child was “addicted”?

Not necessarily. Claims can be based on exposure to harmful content, algorithm-driven radicalisation towards harmful material, or failure to protect from cyberbullying — without requiring a formal addiction diagnosis.

What about platforms based in the US?

The Online Safety Act applies to platforms with UK users regardless of where they’re headquartered. For civil claims, jurisdiction can be complex, but UK users can often sue in UK courts for harm suffered here.

Is there any free legal help available?

Some solicitors take complex cases on Conditional Fee Arrangements (no win, no fee). Organisations like Molly Rose Foundation advocate for bereaved families. Law school clinics may also offer initial guidance.