What Kind of Injuries Can Result from Social Media Addiction?
The physical injuries that can arise from social media addiction among adolescents and teens include eating disorders, cutting behaviors, and suicide. Adults have a fixed sense of self that is less reliant on peer acceptance and a more mature prefrontal cortex to help regulate emotional responses to social rewards. However, children and adolescents, according to the American Psychological Association, fall prey to these apps without the mental capacity to detach.
The New York social media injury attorneys at Douglas & London are here to help. Continue reading to learn more about social media harms and who may be eligible to file a lawsuit seeking restitution.
Early Warning Signs of Social Media Harms
The signs can be subtle and confused with “just being a teen,” such as:
- Neglecting real-life responsibilities, previously enjoyed activities, or self-care
- Continuous use of social media with an inability to stop
- Anger, anxiety, distress, or depression when unable to use social media
- Preoccupied obsession with social media content when offline
- Disturbances in eating, sleeping, and exercise patterns
- Secretive use of social media and deceptive behaviors to evade “getting caught”
While these activities aren’t likely to result in a successful social media lawsuit, they are early warning signs.
Side Effects of Social Media Addiction in Minors
- Self-Harm—This can refer to teens cutting their wrists or choking themselves until they pass out. Or they can be accidental—as with kids who participated in dangerous online challenges where they ingest a spoonful of cinnamon or suck their lips inside a bottle to “look like their favorite celebrity.”
- Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders – A negative perception of oneself may develop with repeated exposure to unattainable or unrealistic beauty standards. Low self-esteem may lead to poor body image and diagnosable medical conditions like anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and exercise obsession.
- Suicide – Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth ages 10-24, and the rates have tripled among girls between the ages of 10-14 with the advent of social media. Social media and suicide are most commonly observed when adolescents are online for two or more hours per day. Other contributing factors include cyberbullying and sleep deprivation.
In some instances, cases of diagnosed severe clinical depression or clinical anxiety may qualify for a lawsuit, so do not hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney for a free consultation if your family is struggling.
Can I File a Social Media Lawsuit?
Provable injuries involving social media and self-harm are the most common cases for New York attorneys. This type of lawsuit is more likely to hold water in court. If your child has suffered one of the aforementioned side effects of social media addiction, it’s worth considering how it can help you obtain the compensation you need and the opportunity to seek professional healing.
Get Help from a New York Attorney
It can be challenging to see the negative effect of social media addiction in your family. When it becomes impossible to ignore and real harm occurs, contact us at Douglas & London for a free consultation. We are helping parents pursue social media lawsuits that demand accountability.
