Does the age my child started using social media matter for a claim?

Age alone won't make or break a claim, but it's one piece of the timeline a case evaluation looks at. That timeline can matter just as much as the diagnosis itself, since it helps show how a child's use changed over time.

Why the age of first use matters

Self-regulation, impulse control, and reward sensitivity are all still developing during adolescence, which is part of why researchers pay close attention to when a child's social media use actually began. A couple of studies help illustrate this:

• Following 2,350 adolescents starting at ages 11 to 12, a 2026 longitudinal study found that using social media more than three hours a day was linked to notably higher odds of clinically significant depression and anxiety two to three years later, versus using it 30 minutes or less daily
• A 2021 study involving 772 adolescents found that those who started social media younger tended to go to bed later and get fewer hours of sleep on school nights

These findings point to associations, not proof that early use directly caused a later diagnosis. What matters more for a claim is the fuller timeline behind your child's use and symptoms. There's no specific age that automatically qualifies a claim on its own.

File a social media addiction claim with Atraxia Law

If your child developed a diagnosed condition and you're trying to piece together when their social media use became a problem, Atraxia Law can help determine whether your social media addiction claim may qualify. We review your child's usage history alongside their medical records to establish eligibility, then connect qualifying families with an attorney handling claims in MDL 3047. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.