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Social media addiction lawsuits: claims against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube
Families, school districts and states have sued the companies behind Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging the platforms were designed in ways that encourage compulsive use and harm young people’s mental health. Federal and California state cases are moving toward trials.
By SettlementLift. Published · Updated .
What is alleged
Plaintiffs allege that features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications and recommendation algorithms were designed to maximize use by minors, and that the companies did not warn about mental health risks. The companies deny the claims and argue that federal law protects many of their design choices.
The federal MDL
MDL 3047 is before Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California, with 3,824 pending cases as of October 1, 2026. Plaintiffs include individual families and hundreds of school districts.
JPML: Pending MDL dockets by actions pending (October 1, 2026) ↗Trials and settlements
In March 2026 a Los Angeles jury in the coordinated California cases returned a verdict against Meta and YouTube, which are appealing. Some defendants have settled individual cases before trial. More state and federal trials are scheduled for late 2026 and 2027.
What health officials have said
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory on social media and youth mental health, describing potential risks and calling for more research and safety standards. An advisory is guidance, not a court finding.
U.S. Surgeon General: Social media and youth mental health advisory ↗Records that matter
Which platforms were used and from what age, account data that can be downloaded from each platform, and mental health or school records. If someone is in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Deadlines
Each state sets its own filing deadline, and the clock often starts when you knew or should have known about the injury and its possible cause. Joining an MDL does not pause your state’s deadline, so ask a lawyer promptly if you are considering a claim.
Talking to a lawyer
Mass tort lawyers usually work on contingency, meaning they are paid a percentage of any recovery. Ask how the fee is calculated, which costs you could owe, whether your case would be filed in the MDL or in state court, and who will handle it day to day. SettlementLift is not a law firm and does not take or refer these cases.
ABA: Questions to ask a lawyer ↗Frequently asked questions
Who can file a social media addiction lawsuit?
Most individual cases are brought by parents on behalf of minors or by young adults who began using the platforms as minors. Eligibility depends on the facts and on state law.
Has there been a payout per person?
There is no global settlement or set payout. Amounts reported online are estimates or come from individual cases.