What to Expect From the Latest Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Trial
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For the second time, a major social media addiction lawsuit is heading before a jury. These lawsuits claim that popular social media platforms were designed to intentionally addict users.
The trial began with jury selection today in California state court and involves claims brought by two teens who say their mental health suffered after using social media. The defendants are Snap, the company behind Snapchat, and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.
YouTube and TikTok were also initially expected to be included in the trial but reached settlements with the teens before it began. Meta has also agreed to a settlement with one of the two plaintiffs.
The trial, which will likely last several weeks, could have significant ramifications for the tech giants behind some of the world’s most popular social media platforms.
Why the Social Media Addiction Trial Matters
This week’s social media addiction trial is being closely watched because it is one of just thousands of active lawsuits claiming that platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are designed to intentionally addict users.
Lawsuits tell stories of teens and children who used social media for years and went on to develop severe mental health issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders and more.
It’s a critical trial, as it will be just the second time these types of claims advance before a jury. The first trial, which took place earlier this year, involved a 20-year-old woman who said that she used both Instagram and YouTube from a young age and eventually developed serious mental health issues.
Following the trial, Meta and Google were ordered to pay her a combined $6 million. With thousands of similar cases pending in both federal and state courts, this week’s trial will provide another key look at the strength of these cases and could influence settlement negotiations.
Social Media Addiction Trial Follows Meta Agreement to Make Platform Changes
The latest social media addiction trial comes on the heels of Meta reaching a multibillion-dollar settlement with a number of U.S. states.
That deal came with the promise of platform changes, with Meta announcing plans to implement daily usage limits for younger users along with restrictions on use during overnight and school hours.
While that deal could resolve litigation brought by states, the social media giants also face a number of lawsuits from school districts. Those cases claim that tech companies have fueled a youth mental health crisis across the country, saddling schools with the cost of treating it.
Social companies paid a combined $27 million to a single Kentucky school district in May 2026 as part of a settlement over those claims.
Editor Arsheeya Garg contributed to this article.