Meta and Snap Face New Trial Over Teen Social Media Harms

Jury selection began Wednesday in Los Angeles in another high-profile trial examining the alleged impact of social media on young users, with Meta and Snap facing claims that their platforms contributed to harmful behaviour and mental health problems among teenagers.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed across the United States in recent years, accusing social media companies of exposing children and adolescents to potentially harmful online experiences. The cases focus largely on allegations that addictive platform designs and misleading practices have negatively affected young users.

The latest proceedings follow an earlier landmark trial in Los Angeles, where a jury found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young user identified as KGM. The companies were ordered to pay a combined $6 million in damages. Meta said it respectfully disagreed with the verdict, while Snap and TikTok had settled with the plaintiff before the trial concluded.

In another case scheduled for trial in August, Snap, TikTok and YouTube reached settlements with the plaintiff, identified as RKC. The remaining claims against Meta were subsequently withdrawn, allowing the company to avoid trial without reaching a settlement in that case.

The latest consolidated trial involves two plaintiffs identified as SJ and KDB. TikTok and YouTube reached settlements before proceedings began, while Meta settled with SJ but remains a defendant in KDB’s case. A California state judge combined the two cases into a single trial.

Unless further settlements are reached, opening statements are scheduled for November 4, with Meta and Snap expected to defend themselves against the remaining claims. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel are expected to testify from mid-November.

The legal challenges come as Meta faces additional scrutiny over its handling of user data and the potential effects of its platforms on children. Earlier this month, a New Mexico judge ordered the company to pay $25 billion in a case concerning allegations that it misled users about how their personal data was used in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Separately, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for harms to children, resulting in a combined penalty of $942 million.

In August, Meta also agreed to pay more than $18 billion in penalties and make changes to Instagram and Facebook for teenage users as part of a settlement with 52 attorneys general. The agreement included provisions linked to similar changes by YouTube and TikTok, including measures to limit daily screen time.

Plaintiffs Allege Addictive Platform Design

The plaintiffs in the latest Los Angeles trial allege that they began using social media at the ages of 13 and 15 and were exposed to apps they describe in court documents as “addictive and problematic.”

SJ, a teenager from Illinois, allegedly developed compulsive Snapchat use and subsequently experienced mental health difficulties, an eating disorder and self-harm, according to her lawyers.

KDB, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, allegedly developed compulsive use of Meta and Snap platforms, with her lawyers claiming that the behaviour contributed to a decline in her mental and physical health.

Meta has rejected the allegations and said it will defend itself in court.

Snap, meanwhile, is expected to argue that Snapchat differs from platforms such as Instagram and Facebook because its primary purpose is messaging. The company said it believes the evidence will show that it prioritises its community and that the allegations do not accurately reflect the plaintiffs’ experiences or the design of its platform.

The case is unfolding amid growing international debate over restricting teenagers’ access to social media, with regulators and lawmakers examining whether stronger safeguards are needed to protect young users.