Jury selection began October 28 in Los Angeles Superior Court in a trial that will put Meta and Snap in front of a jury over claims their apps harmed two teenage girls. It is the second trial of its kind, and the first in which Snap faces a jury.
The plaintiffs, a 16-year-old from Illinois (S.J.) and an 18-year-old from Mississippi (K.D.B.), say they started on social media as young children. They allege that endless feeds, autoplay, notifications and Snapchat streaks kept them scrolling for hours, and that they developed depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
Before trial, both girls settled with TikTok and YouTube, and S.J. settled with Meta. The jury will hear both girls’ claims against Snap and K.D.B.’s claims against Meta. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel are expected to testify in November. See our trial preview for background.
What It Means for Families
This trial will not decide anyone else’s claim. Each family’s claim is separate. But results in test cases like this one show what a jury thinks the companies’ conduct is worth, and that shapes how the remaining claims are valued and settled.
The first jury to hear one of these cases, in March 2026, found Meta and YouTube negligent and awarded a young woman $6 million. Meta’s settlement with state attorneys general pays the states, not families. Families who want compensation for a child’s treatment and suffering must file their own claims.
Who May Have a Claim
The strongest claims usually involve a young person who:
- Began heavy use of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube before age 18
- Is now 25 or younger
- Was diagnosed with depression, severe anxiety, an eating disorder or a body image disorder, or harmed themselves or attempted suicide
- Received medical or counseling treatment
Families who lost a child may also have a claim.
Doyle APC handles social media addiction claims together with experienced co-counsel.
If you or your child is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Common Questions
Is it too late to file a claim?
No global settlement for families has been announced, and new claims are still being filed. Each state sets its own deadline, so it is worth acting soon.
Do we need to live in California?
No. Families nationwide have filed claims.
What does it cost?
You pay nothing unless there is a recovery.
What compensation can a family seek?
Claims seek medical and counseling expenses, past and future, along with compensation for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.