October 30, 2026
Snap, Meta, TikTok & YouTube Settle Ahead of Trial
For the third time this year, social media companies were set to face a jury trial over claims that their apps were designed to hook children and teens. Jury selection began in Los Angeles Superior Court on October 28, 2026, with opening statements scheduled for November 4. The trial was expected to run through mid-December and the latest sign that social media addiction lawsuits are not isolated complaints, but serious legal claims for juries to decide. However, the last remaining defendant, Snap, settled with both plaintiffs just days before trial was set to start.
Two Teens, Two Sets of Claims
The case combined lawsuits from two teenagers identified in court papers by their initials. S.J. is a 16-year-old from Illinois, and K.D.B. is an 18-year-old from Mississippi. According to Reuters, both say they began using YouTube as early as age 3 or 4, and other platforms around age 9.
S.J.’s attorneys say she started using Snapchat at a young age. They allege that features like Snap Streaks, Snap Scores, filters, and push notifications drove compulsive use. That use, they say, contributed to her depression, anxiety, eating disorder, and self-harm. K.D.B. says her use of Instagram and Snapchat from a young age also contributed to mental health issues and self-harm.
Both plaintiffs originally sued Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube in 2023, but reached settlements with all defendants ahead of trial.
Why This Trial Matters
This would have been the first time Snap has faced a jury in a social media addiction lawsuit. The plaintiffs’ lead trial counsel told CBS News it would also have been the first time the public sees some of Snap’s internal documents.
The trial comes after a landmark verdict earlier this year. In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in the first social media addiction trial and awarded a young woman $6 million in damages.
The stakes reach the top of the company. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was expected to testify following an unsuccessful attempt by the company to keep him off the stand. And these two survivors are far from alone: thousands of similar lawsuits are pending across the country, accusing social media companies of building addictive features and misleading families about the risks.
Why the Settlements Matter
Settling lets a company avoid a jury verdict, keep its internal documents out of public view, and keep its executives off the witness stand. Settling before trial can also help these companies contain costs and potential penalties. Settlements like these typically include no admission of wrongdoing, which means a company never has to accept responsibility in court.
The pattern of social media addiction settlements is hard to ignore. Snap settled the first Los Angeles bellwether case in January, days before trial, and settled the second one as well. Meta settled with state attorneys general in August, agreeing to pay more than $17 billion several days into a trial. TikTok and YouTube have settled multiple cases, too. The one time a jury heard one of these cases to the end, it found Meta and YouTube negligent.
Rather than defend their platforms in front of a jury, these companies keep choosing to resolve plaintiffs’claims. For families weighing a lawsuit, that says a lot about how seriously the companies take them.
Does Your Family Have a Case?
If you or your child used social media heavily as a minor and struggled with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, self-harm, or other mental health harms, you may have a claim. These lawsuits focus on platform design features, including endless feeds, autoplay, streaks, and notifications.
Gibbs Mura’s attorneys have been closely involved in social media addiction lawsuits and understand the evidence these cases depend on. We can review your situation and explain your options at no cost and with no obligation.