Social Media Status: Clicks, Crises, and Courtroom Clashes

A massive legal battle is unfolding against some of the world’s most powerful tech companies—Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Snap (Snapchat), ByteDance (TikTok), and Google (YouTube)—as thousands of lawsuits accuse them of fueling a youth mental health crisis through addictive platform design.

What’s the Lawsuit About?

The lawsuits allege that these companies:

• Intentionally designed features to maximize screen time and engagement among children and teens.
• Used algorithms that exploit psychological vulnerabilities.
• Failed to warn users and parents about the risks of excessive use.

The result? A surge in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and even self-harm among young users. School districts, families, and public health systems say they’ve been left to pick up the pieces.

Who’s Suing?

• Families: Parents are filing personal injury claims on behalf of children harmed by social media use.
• School Districts: Hundreds of districts say they’ve spent millions on counseling, disciplinary actions, and mental health services.
• Cities and States: New York City recently joined the fight, suing Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat for allegedly creating a “public nuisance” that strains schools and hospitals.

What’s Happening in Court?

The legal battle is heating up in California, where over 1,000 cases have been coordinated in Los Angeles Superior Court. In a major win for plaintiffs:

• Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl denied summary judgment motions from Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Snap, TikTok, and Google, allowing key claims to move forward.
• The first of three Trial Group 1 bellwether jury trials—featuring plaintiffs K.G.M., R.K.C., and Heaven Moore—is set to begin January 27, 2026.
• Judge Kuhl ruled that the platforms’ design features, not just third-party content, may be responsible for the harm caused to young users.
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel have been ordered to testify.

These rulings affirm that tech companies must face accountability for how their platforms are built—and how they affect children’s mental health.

What’s at Stake?

If the lawsuits succeed, they could lead to billions of dollars in damages, sweeping reforms in platform design, and new regulations governing how tech companies interact with minors. The litigation is being compared to past landmark cases against Big Tobacco and opioid manufacturers—industries that were held accountable for public health harms after years of denial.

Our Commitment

At Beasley Allen, we believe corporations must be held accountable when their products harm the public—especially our children.

In 2022, we started filing personal injury lawsuits across the country for teenagers affected by social media addiction. Beasley Allen’s Joseph VanZandt and Davis Vaughn continue to lead the charge in this nationwide case, representing a broad coalition of parents, children, boards of education, and counties affected by these platforms.