Kansas Social Media Harm Lawyers Provide Justice for Minors
When Internet Apps Put Profits Over Kids’ Safety, Families Deserve Answers
It is unacceptable when an underage child is harmed. Social media companies like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox, Ashley Madison, and online dating apps are not passive tools. They make deliberate decisions about how their platforms work—how users are connected, what content is recommended, and what safety protections are in place for children. When those decisions expose minors to predators, sexual exploitation, or serious mental and emotional harm, Kansas families have the right to ask:
Could this have been prevented? A social media platform’s design must have sufficient safety failures, free from misleading practices.
At Wallentine Injury Law, our Kansas personal injury lawyers have helped and continue to help families deal with online harm.
How Children Are Being Harmed on Social Media
Fifteen-year-old Alexis decided to try an online dating app intended for adults. She misrepresented her age and used the platform to arrange a meeting with an older man. The two met, and a sexual encounter followed. Alexis now faces the lasting consequences of a decision made at a young age.
This situation raises an important question: should a platform designed for adults have safeguards in place to prevent minors from accessing it or interacting with adult users? If reasonable protections were lacking or ineffective, the risks to underage users may have been foreseeable and preventable.
Unethical or negligent online businesses cause harm, leading to:
- Adults contacting or grooming minors through messaging features, leading to rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, or human trafficking
- Sexual solicitations or explicit images sent or requested from underage users, which can turn into sextortion – there is currently an epidemic of teen boys committing suicide as a result of these sexual extortion schemes
- Teenagers committing suicide due to online problems
- Platforms recommending harmful or inappropriate content to children
- Design features that make it easier for perps to find and contact minors, including faulty age verification measures
Negligent System Design
In many cases, the platform’s design and safety choices play a role. Social media companies often claim they can’t control what users do. But they do control:
- How accounts are created and verified
- How minors are identified (or not identified)
- How content is recommended
- Whether messaging is restricted or open
- Whether messages with harmful content are flagged for review
- What safety tools are actually effective
When companies ignore known risks—or fail to implement reasonable protections—those choices can have real consequences for children.
Signs Your Child May Have Been Harmed
- Secretive or sudden changes in device use
- Contact with unknown individuals online
- Receiving explicit or inappropriate messages
- Emotional withdrawal, anxiety, or depression
- Sleep disruption or compulsive app use
- Fear, shame, or reluctance to discuss online interactions
If something feels off, trust your instincts.
What Should You Do Immediately?
If you suspect your child has been harmed through a social media platform:
- Take screenshots of messages, profiles, and usernames
- Preserve devices and do not delete accounts
- Document timelines and what you observed
- Report dangerous conduct to appropriate authorities if necessary
- Speak with a Kansas social media harm lawyer before evidence disappears. Online evidence can be lost quickly. Acting early matters.
What If My Child Initiated the Contact Through the Site?
Sure. Underage children should not violate rules. But, they are children, learning their way, who deserve to be protected! The responsibility is primarily with the online app, and them trying to cast blame on the child will not bode well in court.
Furthermore, Kansas has been aggressively adjusting its laws to accommodate the lawsuit as well as address online safety for our children. Some of these laws include:
Kansas House Bill 2479
- Expands blackmail laws to include threats involving images, especially when it comes to minors and the use of artificial intelligence (AI)
- Elevates child endangerment charges if the victim is under the age of 6
- Strengthens laws prohibiting sexual relations between students and school staff members in positions of authority
Kansas House Bill 2299
- Prohibits school staff members from communicating with students through social media or online platforms
- Prohibits use of cell phones or other personal electronic devices during the school day
Talk to a Kansas Social Media Harm Lawyer About Your Child’s Situation
If your child was harmed through an online social media platform—whether by a predator, unsafe content, or platform design—you don’t have to figure this out alone. We can help you understand what evidence matters and whether a legal claim may exist.
If you’re wondering if it is worth filing a lawsuit, the answer is yes. A New Mexico Court just issued a $375 Million Verdict. Not only is it righteous to pursue these claims, it is financially worth it.
Call 913-934-6333 or contact us online to protect your child’s rights and take action.
