Wisconsin social media addiction lawsuit
Families in Wisconsin are holding Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube responsible for harm to their children, one case at a time. Here is who may qualify, how Wisconsin cases are filed, and the deadline that applies.
Quick answer
Wisconsin families can bring individual claims, not a class action, against Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google (YouTube) when a child was harmed after heavy use before 18. In Wisconsin, an injury claim generally must be filed within 3 years; if the injured person was under 18 when the claim arose, they can file within 2 years after turning 18, if that is later than the normal deadline. This extension does not apply to claims against health care providers. A free review checks your family’s deadline.
Who may qualify in Wisconsin
- The child lives or lived in Wisconsin and used Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube regularly before 18
- The child developed depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, self-harm, sleep problems or another serious harm
- No diagnosis? 20 or more hours a week on one platform before 18 may support an exposure claim
- Families of a young person who died by suicide after heavy social media use
- An adult contacted the child through a platform and pressured, threatened or exploited them
Wisconsin filing deadlines
| Personal injury / product liability | 3 years | A personal injury lawsuit must be filed within 3 years. | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injured as a minor | — | If the injured person was under 18 when the claim arose, they can file within 2 years after turning 18, if that is later than the normal deadline. This extension does not apply to claims against health care providers. | Wis. Stat. § 893.16 |
| Wrongful death | 3 years | A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within 3 years. Deaths from motor vehicle accidents have a shorter 2-year limit. | Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m), (2m) |
| Product liability outer limit (repose) | — | A product liability claim is barred if the product was made 15 or more years before the claim arose, unless the maker specifically promised it would last longer. Claims for latent disease are excluded. | Wis. Stat. § 895.047(5) |
The official docs.legis.wisconsin.gov site blocks automated fetching, so all three sections were read on Justia (2025 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations). Under § 893.16, the 5-year cap on extensions applies to mental illness, not minority, and the section never shortens an existing period. The 15-year repose period runs from manufacture, not sale.
These are the general rules in the statutes. Courts apply exceptions, and which rule applies depends on the facts, so a lawyer should confirm your family’s deadline. This is general information, not legal advice.
How Wisconsin cases are filed
This is not a class action. A Wisconsin family’s claim is filed in the child’s name. Federal cases from every state are grouped in MDL No. 3047 in Northern California so evidence and pre-trial rulings are shared; about 3,800 were pending in October 2026. Some cases are filed in state court instead. The lawyers decide with your family where your case belongs.
What Wisconsin has done
Wisconsin's attorney general joined the joint federal lawsuit against Meta filed in federal court in Northern California (N.D. Cal.) on October 24, 2023.
Lawsuits and laws by the state are separate from a family’s own claim. They do not file or replace a claim for your child.
Who handles your case
Grove and Associates PLC is a Michigan law firm with its only office in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Its responsible attorney, Justin Grove, is licensed in Michigan only and is not licensed in Wisconsin. Cases for Wisconsin families are handled together with co-counsel admitted in the court where the case is filed. You will know every lawyer involved, and how the fee is shared, before you sign anything.
Common questions from Wisconsin families
Is there a class action for Wisconsin families?
No. Each child’s claim is filed individually. Federal cases from every state, including Wisconsin, are grouped in MDL No. 3047 in Northern California so evidence and pre-trial rulings are shared, but each claim stays the family’s own.
What is the deadline to file in Wisconsin?
A personal injury lawsuit must be filed within 3 years. If the injured person was under 18 when the claim arose, they can file within 2 years after turning 18, if that is later than the normal deadline. This extension does not apply to claims against health care providers.
What if my child died?
A wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within 3 years. Deaths from motor vehicle accidents have a shorter 2-year limit.
Didn’t Wisconsin already sue Meta?
Wisconsin's attorney general joined the joint federal lawsuit against Meta filed in federal court in Northern California (N.D. Cal.) on October 24, 2023. That case is brought by the state. It is separate from a family’s own claim for its child.
Do I need a Wisconsin lawyer?
Your family works with Grove and Associates PLC, a Michigan firm, and co-counsel admitted in the court where your case is filed. You will know every lawyer involved, and how the fee is shared, before you sign anything.
Does it cost anything?
No. The review is free and confidential. If you hire the firm, the lawyers are paid only from a recovery under a written contingency fee agreement.