Meta and Snap Face Bellwether Los Angeles Trial Over Youth Social Media Addiction

Meta Platforms and Snap are facing a major bellwether trial in Los Angeles Superior Court over allegations that their platforms were engineered to addict youth and cause severe mental health harms. Jury selection has commenced, with opening statements scheduled for November 4. Co-defendants YouTube and TikTok settled prior to trial, while Meta settled with only one plaintiff. The trial serves as a key test case among more than 3,000 consolidated California lawsuits and follows an $18 billion multistate settlement Meta reached in August 2026.