Social Media Use Leading to Declines in Kids’ Mental Health: Report

KidsRights NGO claims social media is the source of a “devastating global mental health crisis” for children and adolescents.

Findings published by an international children’s rights organization suggests that higher internet and social media use may be directly linked to increases suicide attempts among kids under 19 years old, across multiple countries.

The new report was published by KidsRights on June 11, indicating that 14% of children between the ages of 10 and 19 are currently suffering from varying degrees of mental health issues.

KidsRights is an international non-profit organization that is focused on promoting and protecting children’s rights around the globe. The organization works independently of any nation’s government, using a three-pronged approach of advocacy, research and action to focus on a series of issues related to children’s education, environment, protection and participation.

The report adds to a growing body of evidence published in recent years, which has warned that social media is playing a central role in the mental health crisis among youth. In the U.S., this concern has drawn increasing attention from public health officials, including former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who called more than a year ago for Congress to require mental health warning labels on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and others.

Amid these warnings, a growing number of families have begun filing social media addiction lawsuits in federal courts nationwide, alleging that companies operating the popular apps intentionally design their platforms to be addictive, while ignoring mounting evidence that these technologies harm children’s mental health. The lawsuits claim exposure to social media has led to widespread issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and even suicide among young users.

The recent KidsRights report adds to these concerns, with the organization indicating that problematic social media use among adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 increased from 7% to 11% across 44 countries around the world between 2018 and 2022.

“We are witnessing governments struggle to contain a digital crisis that is fundamentally reshaping childhood,” Marc Dullaert, Founder and Chairman of KidsRights, said in the report.

Moreover, the global NGO reports a worldwide average suicide rate for children between 15 and 19 years old standing at six per every 100,000 kids.

In the face of what the organization sees as a global mental health crisis for youths, KidsRights is calling for immediate action, including:

• Comprehensive assessments of all social media platforms and digital services for their impact on children’s rights 
• Mandatory age verification systems to protect children instead of merely excluding them
• Specialized support services tailored to digital-age mental health challenges
• Educational opportunities to build emotional resilience and digital literacy among children, teens and adults
• Training for healthcare professionals to help them better address mental health issues specifically related to technology

Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

In light of these growing concerns, more than 1,800 social media addiction lawsuits are currently pending in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) centralized in the Northern District of California, involving claims that platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube were intentionally designed to be addictive and harmful to children’s mental health.

These lawsuits allege that social media companies have prioritized engagement and screen time over safety, using algorithms and features that encourage compulsive use among teens. As a result, many young users have developed severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal behavior. Some families are also pursuing wrongful death claims after losing children to suicide allegedly linked to excessive social media use.

In March 2025, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the MDL, issued a key ruling allowing claims involving general negligence, wrongful death and survival actions to proceed. Her decision emphasized that plaintiffs had plausibly alleged that the companies engaged in intentional conduct that interfered with child health, potentially violating a duty of care.

Although some claims, such as those involving child sexual abuse material, were dismissed due to federal liability protections under Section 230, the core allegations about addiction and mental health harm remain central to the litigation. 

The first bellwether trials are expected to begin in 2026, and their outcomes may help shape potential settlements for thousands of affected families and school districts across the country.

Sign up to receive more legal news that may impact you or your family.