This week, a landmark trial began involving tech giants Meta and YouTube. The social media addiction lawsuit is the first time leaders of these companies will testify about the alleged role their platforms have in causing addiction, depression, body dysmorphia, and anxiety.
One week prior to the start of the trial, SnapChat, owned by Snap, settled with the plaintiff for an undisclosed sum. Another company followed suit; TikTok settled the teen mental health lawsuit on January 27, 2026, which happened to be the same day jury selection began. It’s expected to take several days for potential jurors to be questioned and finalized.
There will be testimony from prominent leaders of the tech companies, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The plaintiff in the social media addiction trial aims to seek accountability and compensation for the role the platforms’ designs had in causing her mental health issues. Attorneys expect to be in court for six to eight weeks.
It’s been a long road to get here, and this is just the beginning. After numerous similar claims were filed over the course of several years, many were consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of California in October 2022. As the first state trial began at the end of January, cases were still being added to the federal MDL.
While the trial that just began involves an individual plaintiff whose case is in state court, it’s being closely watched and is considered a sort of test case, like the bellwether trials in MDL. The outcome of the first social media addiction lawsuit will show both sides how the evidence and arguments play out in court, and if there’s a jury award, how much that award is.
What Are the Social Media Addiction Lawsuits and MDL About?
The first trial of the mental health addiction lawsuits against Meta and YouTube involves a 19-year-old plaintiff who alleges that her use of social media caused her to develop depression and experience suicidal thoughts.
This lawsuit, alongside state cases and the social media addiction MDL, are based on arguments that these platforms – their algorithms and features – are specifically and intentionally designed to be addictive. They allege that the tech companies prioritized profits over child safety, and that they failed to warn users and parents of the risks.
At the core of these lawsuits are claims of negligence and strict liability because of defective design. They further allege that the parent companies of Facebook and Instagram (Meta), YouTube (Google), SnapChat (Snap) and TikTok (ByteDance) were aware of the risks but failed to integrate safety and protection tools like age verification and parental controls.
The outcome of the social media addiction lawsuits will show what, if any, damages are awarded to the plaintiff, and how much that award is. But there’s much more than just compensation on the line.
What makes the first court case against Meta and YouTube so pivotal is how this may require social media companies to change the design of their platforms to help prevent addiction. It may even lead to changes to how they’re marketed to youth.
The fact is, while parents should know how social media affects youth mental health, encourage healthy behaviors and try to limit use, they can’t do it on their own; the ease of access and realities of a digital world requires the help of companies and lawmakers. Not to mention, there must be accountability if platforms are designed to addict users.
Update on the Social Media Addiction MDL
As of January 2026, the social media addiction MDL had grown to include over 2,200 lawsuits. Plaintiffs include individuals and parents, hundreds of school districts, and 33 state attorneys general. The first of several federal bellwether trials starts June 15, 2026 – if the social media companies don’t settle before then.
School Districts Allege Social Media Causes Addictive Behaviors
Hundreds of school districts are part of the social media mental health MDL. They allege tech companies designed platforms that exploit adolescent brains, causing increased anxiety, behavioral issues, and depression in students. Their lawsuits also claims that Meta, YouTube, SnapChat, and TikTok specifically target minors with the intention of creating long-term dependency.
Their case highlights the impact that social media has on learning; shorter attention spans, reduced concentration, and behavioral issues are identified alongside the mental health effects. The result? School districts have had to reallocate funds to spend more on counselors and provide other specialized services and resources.
Research Connects Youth Social Media Use to Mental Health Problems
Over the past decade, numerous studies have examined how social media affects children and youth. The results of research have repeatedly shown a connection between social media and depression, body image issues, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
Given the evidence of the harm social media may cause children and teenagers, there’s been a movement of advocacy in the US and around the world to better regulate the industry.
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to set an age limit for social media use. Now, children under 16 years old are banned from the platforms.
While the ban has sparked both praise and outrage, other countries are considering similar regulations. With adolescent depression at or near an all-time high, governments in numerous countries have focused efforts on addressing the causes.
Given the current largescale social media addiction MDL, parents of children who regularly use the platforms and have developed mental health issues should consult with both a medical professional and a lawyer. There is significant evidence of the damaging impact that social media may have on youth, and it’s important to advocate for their safety.
