Last Updated on October 1, 2025
The Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations have filed separate lawsuits against major social media companies, alleging product designs on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat contribute to a mental health crisis among Indigenous youth.
The complaints were filed last week in federal court in California. They argue that features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic feeds and push notifications are engineered to maximize engagement among young users, leading to compulsive use and related harms. The filings compare the platforms’ design to slot machines and cigarette addiction. KOSU first reported the suits.
The Chickasaw complaint includes counts for negligence, public nuisance and deceptive practices, among others. The document seeks damages and injunctive relief to force design changes.
“The Nation brings this lawsuit after numerous shocking revelations by whistleblowers within the social media industry: that social media companies designed their products to be addictive, and that the products have contributed to a growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents,” reads the complaint.
“Because Defendants designed products for the purpose of being addictive, placing profits above the welfare of children and adolescents, the Chickasaw Nation should be compensated for their losses—proportionate to the significant resources needed to mitigate and address the growing crisis and the continuous danger posed by the Defendants’ products.”
Tribal officials say the litigation is driven by elevated suicide rates among Native youth. The U.S. Office of Minority Health reports suicide was the second leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native youth in 2022.
The new cases follow a broader wave of litigation seeking to hold tech platforms liable for youth harms. In 2024, the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin sued several companies over similar claims. Dozens of school districts and states have also taken legal action against social media companies, with mixed results.
At the national level, hundreds of cases from families, school districts and municipalities have been consolidated into a sweeping multi-district litigation in California federal court. The proceeding accuses Meta, Snap, TikTok, YouTube and others of designing “defective” products that deliberately exploit the psychology of young users. Plaintiffs in the MDL argue that addictive features like infinite scroll and autoplay loops have caused widespread emotional, behavioral and even fatal harms.
Governments abroad are also tightening controls. In Australia, lawmakers recently passed legislation barring children under 16 from creating accounts on age-restricted platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. The law, set to take effect in December, requires companies to implement stricter age-verification measures or face multimillion-dollar fines. Officials say the move is intended to curb cyberbullying and the addictive pull of algorithms, though critics warn it raises privacy concerns and may be difficult to enforce.
Tech companies have typically defended their platforms by citing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields them from liability for user-generated content. Courts have been reluctant to extend liability to the design of algorithms, though some judges have signaled growing concern.
The cases from the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations will need to survive motions to dismiss before moving forward. If they proceed, discovery could shed light on internal company data about the impact of their products on children.
Regardless of the legal outcome, tribal officials say the cases are part of a larger push to protect Indigenous youth.
The Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations in Oklahoma have filed lawsuits against major social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat.
The Nations allege that the companies designed their platforms to be addictive and failed to protect young users, contributing to a mental health crisis among Indigenous youth.
Tribal leaders point to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among Native youth, arguing that social media harms are worsening these existing challenges.
If successful, the lawsuits could set legal precedents for holding social media platforms accountable for youth mental health harms, influencing similar cases across the U.S. and beyond.
Beyond financial damages, the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations seek stronger accountability, safer platform design, and protections for their communities’ well-being.
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