Snap has settled with the two teens who were about to take Snapchat to trial in Los Angeles, days before opening statements were set to begin. The settlement, confirmed on Monday, November 2, means no jury will decide this year whether Snapchat features like Snapstreaks were designed to hook children. Terms were not disclosed.
Snap was the last company left in the case. Meta settled with both plaintiffs the week before, and TikTok and YouTube had already settled. Jury selection had begun before Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl of Los Angeles County Superior Court, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel had been expected to testify. He will not have to now.
What the Two Teens Alleged
The plaintiffs are S.J., a 16-year-old from Illinois, and K.D.B., an 18-year-old from Mississippi. Both sued in 2023. S.J. alleged that compulsive use contributed to depression and anxiety, lost sleep, an eating disorder, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. K.D.B. alleged that Snapchat and other apps she used from a young age contributed to mental health problems and self-harm.
Their lawsuits focused on how Snapchat is built, not on what other users posted. They pointed to Snapstreaks, which reward users for sending snaps to a friend every day, along with push notifications and other features they said were designed to keep young users coming back. Snap denied the claims and said it has built safeguards, safety tools and educational resources into the app.
What the Lawyers and Snap Said
“We are proud to have achieved justice for our bellwether clients so far, including K.D.B. and S.J.,” said Emily Jeffcott, a lawyer for K.D.B. She and co-counsel John Morgan said their ultimate goal is to hold social media companies accountable. Snap said the parties were “pleased to have been able to resolve this matter in an amicable manner” and that the company remains committed to strengthening the safety, privacy and well-being of its users.
What This Means for Families
Snap has now settled both times it was set to face a jury. It also settled with the plaintiff in the first social media addiction trial, a young woman identified as K.G.M., in January, before that jury found Meta and YouTube negligent and awarded her $6 million in March.
These settlements pay only the teens who brought these cases. They do not pay other families, and they do not end the thousands of similar lawsuits still pending in state and federal courts. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the next test trials, called bellwethers, are scheduled to begin in March. Families who want compensation for a child’s harm need to file their own claims. See who may qualify and our settlements and verdicts page, along with how Meta settled before this trial.
Snap’s Other Legal Fights
New Mexico’s attorney general sued Snap in September 2024, alleging the app was designed to attract and addict young people and exposed children to sextortion and predators. Utah sued in June 2025, alleging Snapchat used addictive features aimed at minors and launched its My AI chatbot without adequate safety testing. Money recovered in state cases goes to the states, not to families.
Who May Have a Claim
Two things matter most: the young person started using Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube heavily before age 18 and is now 25 or younger, and a doctor, therapist or counselor diagnosed or treated depression or severe anxiety, an eating disorder or body dysmorphia, or self-harm, suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt. 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
Did Snap settle the Snapchat addiction trial?
Yes. Snap settled with both plaintiffs, S.J. of Illinois and K.D.B. of Mississippi, on November 2, 2026, after jury selection had begun in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Terms were not disclosed.
Will Snap CEO Evan Spiegel testify?
Not in this case. Spiegel had been expected to testify, but the settlement ended the trial before opening statements.
What are Snapstreaks?
A Snapchat feature that counts how many days in a row two friends have sent each other snaps. The plaintiffs alleged it pressured kids to open the app every day so they would not lose the streak.
Does the Snap settlement pay other families?
No. It pays only the two teens in this case. Families who want compensation must file their own claims.
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. You pay nothing unless we recover.