The TikTok Addiction Lawyer
If your child developed an eating disorder, depression, anxiety, self-harm or worse after hours a day on TikTok, you may be able to hold the company accountable. We represent families across the country.
Social media addiction litigation as of November 14, 2026. Most individual settlements are confidential.
TikTok Addiction Lawyer
We believe no company should profit from hooking children on a product it knew could hurt them.
TikTok's own internal research found that compulsive use was linked to anxiety, lost sleep and other mental health harms, and that a user can form a habit in a few hundred videos. Families say the company kept its most addictive features anyway, and didn't warn parents.
Estey & Bomberger, LLP represents children, teens and young adults harmed by TikTok addiction, as well as Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook. To schedule a free consultation with our TikTok addiction lawyers, fill out our short form or call (858) 923-5554 any time.
What Sets Us Apart?
- Our attorneys have recovered over $500 million for clients, including major verdicts and settlements for children and families. See the results below.
- We have taken on large corporations for decades — including Mike Bomberger's five-year fight that ended with a company paying $21 million over a dangerous product.
- You pay nothing unless we win. We work on a contingency fee, and your consultation is always free and confidential.
- We handle these cases with care. Many of our families are dealing with an eating disorder, self-harm or the loss of a child. We go at your pace.
Why Do You Need a TikTok Addiction Lawyer?
These cases are part of one of the largest product liability litigations in the country. Federal cases are consolidated in MDL No. 3047 in Northern California, and California state cases are coordinated in Los Angeles. TikTok is defended by some of the largest law firms in the world, and it has fought hard to have these claims thrown out.
A lawyer gathers the medical records, screen-time data and account history your case needs, meets court deadlines, works with experts, and negotiates for you — so you can focus on your child's recovery. Here's how the process works.
Injuries in TikTok Lawsuits
Eating Disorders
Lawsuits allege TikTok's feed pushed teens toward extreme dieting and body content. Learn how these claims work and what help is available for your family.
Learn more →Depression
Families allege TikTok's addictive design contributed to depression in kids and young adults. Learn the warning signs and how a lawsuit may help.
Learn more →Anxiety
Lawsuits allege TikTok's design keeps kids hooked in ways that fuel anxiety, sleep loss, and panic. Learn the signs and how a claim may help.
Learn more →Self-Harm
Lawsuits allege TikTok's algorithm exposed vulnerable teens to self-harm content and kept them coming back. Learn the signs, get support, and explore your options.
Learn more →Suicidal Thoughts
Families allege TikTok's design exposed vulnerable kids to harmful content and compulsive use linked to suicidal thoughts. Learn about support and legal options.
Learn more →Body Dysmorphia
Lawsuits allege TikTok's beauty filters and appearance-focused feed contributed to body dysmorphic disorder in young users. Learn the signs and your options.
Learn more →Teen Suicide & Wrongful Death
Families who lost a child to suicide are bringing wrongful death claims alleging social media design played a role. Learn about support and your rights, at your own pace.
Learn more →Sextortion
Sextortion targets kids through messaging and stranger-contact features on social apps. Learn what to do now, where to report, and how families are seeking accountability.
Learn more →What TikTok Knew
In 2024, 14 state attorneys general sued TikTok. Portions of their complaints that were meant to be redacted revealed what the company's own research found. TikTok says the documents are outdated and taken out of context.
Read what the documents show- TikTok determined a user can form a habit after watching 260 videos — which state investigators said can happen in under 35 minutes.
- TikTok’s own research said “compulsive usage correlates with a slew of negative mental health effects,” including loss of sleep and anxiety.
- Its 60-minute screen-time prompt reduced teen use by only about a minute and a half a day; internally, success was measured partly by public trust and press coverage.
- TikTok knew beauty filters could harm young users.
- An internal document quoted in Nebraska’s complaint said “compulsive usage on TikTok is rampant.”
You May Have a Case If…
- Your child used TikTok (or Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat or Facebook) for hours a day, and felt unable to stop.
- The heavy use started when they were a minor.
- They developed an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, self-harm or suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, or died by suicide.
- They were targeted for sextortion or sexual exploitation through the app.
- A doctor, therapist, counselor or hospital diagnosed or treated them.
Not sure? Learn more about who may qualify, or just ask us. It's free and there's no obligation.
Latest TikTok Lawsuit Updates
- Nov 12, 2026Witness fight ahead of first MDL trial
- Nov 5, 2026Appeals court upholds dismissal of four school-district suits
- Nov 4, 2026TikTok, Meta and Google sue to block California law
- Nov 2, 2026Snap settles second California trial
- Oct 30, 2026Meta settles second California bellwether
Mike Bomberger
Founding Partner, Estey & Bomberger, LLP
Mike Bomberger has spent more than three decades representing people hurt by careless companies, including children and families. He co-founded Estey & Bomberger, LLP in San Diego in 1994 and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the Daily Journal as a Top Plaintiff Lawyer.
About Mike BombergerSelected past results of Estey & Bomberger, LLP in other types of cases. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really sue TikTok for my child’s addiction?
Yes. Thousands of families have filed lawsuits claiming TikTok was designed to be addictive to kids and that the company failed to warn parents about the risks. Courts have allowed these design-defect and failure-to-warn claims to move forward. TikTok has settled every bellwether trial it was scheduled to face.
How much does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means we are paid only if we recover money for your family. The consultation is free and confidential.
My child is now an adult. Can they still file?
Often, yes. Many of our clients are young adults whose problems began when they were teenagers. Deadlines vary by state, so it is important to talk with us soon.
What if my child used Instagram, YouTube or Snapchat too?
That’s common, and it doesn’t hurt your case. The lawsuits name TikTok, Meta (Instagram and Facebook), Google (YouTube) and Snap (Snapchat). Tell us about every app your child used.
Is there a TikTok class action settlement I can join?
No. These are individual lawsuits grouped together for efficiency (a federal MDL and a California state proceeding), not a class action. Each family has its own case, and there is no global settlement fund yet. You need your own lawyer to file a claim.
Will my child have to testify or go to court?
Most cases in large litigations like this resolve without the individual family going to trial. If testimony is ever needed, we prepare you and your child carefully and protect their privacy — cases involving minors are usually filed using initials.
Areas We Serve
We represent families in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Choose your state to learn how a TikTok addiction case works where you live.