Pediatricians warn digital ecosystems are harming children and teens

By LP News Editor, Sara G. Stephens

AAP Issues New Screen Time Policy as Evidence Mounts in Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

On January 20, 2026, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a sweeping new policy statement on screen time and digital media. The report, titled Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents, updates earlier guidance and reflects the deep integration of technology into daily life for young people.

The AAP explains that children and teens no longer interact with screens in isolation. Instead, they exist within digital ecosystems made up of social media platforms, apps, games, video content, and artificial intelligence tools. These systems influence behavior, mood, sleep, and development.

According to the policy, “Digital environments designed to maximize engagement can displace essential health behaviors, including sleep, physical activity, and in-person social interactions.”

The AAP also warns against data tracking and targeted advertising aimed at children, stating that “surveillance and targeted advertising for children should be avoided.”

What the AAP Recommends for Children, Teens, and Families

In its policy statement, the AAP made clear recommendations for families, caregivers, and pediatric providers. The new guidance urges parents to create family media plans that include clear rules, household expectations, and shared goals around digital use. It suggests that caregivers:

• Engage with children around media rather than only setting limits
• Help young people build media literacy and self-awareness
• Support healthy habits such as regular sleep, physical activity, and in-person relationships

The policy also says pediatricians should discuss media use during health visits and help families make plans that fit their needs.

The AAP encourages older teens to reflect on how digital platforms make them feel and whether their use affects their mental health. It stresses that families should watch for signs of distress, including anxiety, low self-esteem, disrupted sleep, or obsessive behaviors associated with social media.

AAP Calls on Technology Companies to Change Platform Design

The AAP’s policy statement also places responsibility on digital media. Its policy states that platform designers must consider child development and public health. It urges companies to build child-centered features, avoid addictive designs like endless scroll and frequent push notifications, eliminate harmful targeted advertising directed at minors, and provide greater transparency about how content is recommended to young users.

Clearly stating that digital ecosystems should “promote development, health, safety, and well-being,” the AAP’s policy language echoes growing calls from public health leaders, including the U.S. Surgeon General, for platforms to adopt warning labels similar to those on tobacco and other harmful products when used by minors. Surveys show teens spend many hours daily on social platforms, and nearly half of adolescents report that social media worsens their body image.

Research Shows Growing Evidence of Social Media Addiction

Scientific evidence shows that social media use affects mental health in powerful ways. One study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood found that nearly six hours of daily smartphone use among teenage girls strongly correlates with significantly higher levels of anxiety and negative mental health outcomes. The study also linked heavy use to compulsive behavior patterns similar to addiction.

Other research has found links between heavy social media use and addiction-like patterns of behavior, increased anxiety, and mental distress. These findings are consistent with broader reviews showing that social networking sites are associated with depression and psychological stress in youth.

The concerns stemming from these studies extend to serious physical harms. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been shown to promote harmful content tied to eating disorders and extreme body image ideals. Experts note that this content can trigger or worsen conditions like anorexia and bulimia in vulnerable youth.

The Legal Response: Social Media Addiction Litigation

As evidence mounts, families and communities are turning to the courts. More than 2,200 cases are now part of a federal multidistrict litigation titled In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Product Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3047).

These social media lawsuits allege that major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat intentionally designed addictive features that harmed children and young adults. Plaintiffs claim injuries ranging from anxiety and depression to self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders.

In 2025, a federal court scheduled the first bellwether trials to begin. These early cases will help shape how the larger litigation unfolds. The MDL includes lawsuits from families as well as from school districts that say social media has strained mental health services and disrupted learning.

Legal Leaders on Why This Matters

Emmie Paulos, a Levin Papantonio attorney and member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in MDL 3047, represents adolescents and young adults who she says have suffered “physical and emotional harm such as suicide, self harm, and eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.”

“The AAP’s policy confirms that there is a public health crisis,” Paulos said. “The medical community is recognizing that these harms are real and widespread, and the evidence shows that young people are being exposed to addictive systems that place their mental health at risk.”

She added that litigation is about accountability.

“These cases are focused on whether companies knowingly designed products that harmed children and failed to warn families about the risks.”

Schools and Communities Join the Fight

Schools are also stepping into this issue. The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, filed a lawsuit against major social platforms, saying addiction has harmed students’ well-being and education. Community events, like workshops hosted by the Escambia County School District, aim to educate parents and local leaders about litigation options and the broader impacts of social media on youth.

In other cases, judges have upheld key claims by school districts in social media addiction lawsuits, allowing litigation to move forward and signaling that courts are taking these issues seriously.

SOURCES:
Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents: Policy Statement | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics