Meta Settles With Second Plaintiff in Social Media Addiction Case as Snap Inc. Trial Approaches

Social media platforms have faced years of claims that they use features like infinite scrolling and algorithmic amplification to increase user time. Families and school districts argue these designs harm the mental health of children and young adults. A jury found Meta and Google’s YouTube negligent during a trial in Los Angeles in March 2026. Legal challenges force tech companies to address platform design and user safety in courtrooms across the US.

1. Meta settled with S.J. On October 29, 2026. The company reached a separate agreement with plaintiff dubbed as K.D.B. On October 30, 2026. Both settlements resolved claims regarding platform addiction.

2. TikTok and YouTube settled claims filed by plaintiffs S.J. And K.D.B. The companies reached these agreements in the weeks before the trial.

3. More than 1,600 plaintiffs joined this consolidated litigation. The group represents over 350 families and 250 school districts.

4. In August 2026, Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle claims from dozens of states concerning its social media platforms, according to CBS News.

1. Snap Inc. remains the sole defendant in the trial that began in Los Angeles with jury selection during the week of October 26, 2026. Opening arguments for the trial are scheduled for November 4, 2026, as the legal proceedings move forward against the remaining company.

2. In a lawsuit, K.D.B. Alleges that Snap designed features including Snapstreaks, Snapscores, push notifications, and filters to maximize time spent on the app.

3. Plaintiff K.D.B. Alleged that her use of Instagram and Snapchat as a child worsened her mental health. She claimed that these platforms contributed to an eating disorder and suicidal ideation.

4. Lawyers for the plaintiffs expect the trial against Snap to last until mid-December 2026.

5. In March 2026, a jury found Meta and Google’s YouTube negligent in the design or operation of their platforms. The jury awarded plaintiff K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages.