The second social media addiction trial against Meta is set to begin October 28, 2026 in Los Angeles Superior Court, and for the first time Snap will face a jury alongside it.
Families may qualify for compensation if a young person became addicted to social media before age 18 and was diagnosed with a mental health injury.
Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl combined two cases for one trial: S.J., a 15-year-old from Illinois, and K.D.B., an 18-year-old from Mississippi, according to Reuters. Both claim that compulsive use of the companies’ apps harmed their mental health. TikTok settled both cases in August, and YouTube settled in late September, leaving Meta and Snap as the defendants.
Zuckerberg Ordered to Testify Again
On September 29, Judge Kuhl denied Meta’s request to block trial subpoenas for chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Both are expected to testify in November.
What Happened Last Time
In the first trial, a jury found on March 25, 2026 that Meta and YouTube were negligent and failed to warn of the risks to a young woman who began using YouTube at 6 and Instagram at 9. It awarded about $6 million, including $3 million in punitive damages, and assigned Meta 70 percent of the fault. Both companies are appealing. Snap settled that case before trial, as it did in a second case set for trial in July.
Two other plaintiffs dropped their claims against Meta before trial this year, one in July and one in August.
Thousands of Claims Waiting
More than 3,300 personal injury cases are coordinated in Los Angeles, according to Reuters, and 3,824 cases were pending in the federal multidistrict litigation in Northern California as of October 1. The first federal bellwether trial, brought by a school district, is scheduled for February 2027. For a full calendar, see Meta trials and the Snapchat lawsuits.
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
When does the trial start?
October 28, 2026, in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Why are TikTok and YouTube not in the trial?
Both settled with the two plaintiffs before trial. The terms have not been disclosed.
Does this trial decide other families’ claims?
No. Each claim is separate. Bellwether verdicts help show how juries respond to the evidence.
Can families still file claims?
Yes. No global settlement for individual families has been announced, and new claims are being filed.