Four US families have filed a wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit against Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google, alleging that their platforms’ addictive and harmful design contributed to the deaths of four children. The case adds to growing legal pressure on major technology companies over claims that social media products can damage young users’ mental health.

The Social Media Victims Law Center alleges the firms ignored internal warnings, concealed evidence of harm and targeted vulnerable minors with content and features linked to appearance, social comparison and engagement. The deaths occurred between July 2024 and September 2025 across four states, while the case was filed in Delaware after internal documents were unsealed; Google said it was reviewing the claims and stressed its youth-safety measures. The companies are also facing related lawsuits, including action by US states against Meta and a recent settlement involving Meta, Snap and TikTok in Kentucky.