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US Social Media Addiction Lawsuits: Key Trial Developments
Multidistrict litigation and state court cases against social media companies like Meta, Snap, TikTok, and Google allege platforms were designed to addict minors, causing mental health harm. Bellwether trials are scheduled in California state and federal courts starting late 2025.
Why It Matters
These trials could set precedents on tech company liability for user addiction, influence platform safety features, and lead to settlements affecting thousands of cases involving schools, families, and states.
Timeline
13 Events
Third California state bellwether trial scheduled
May 11, 2026
Trial Pool 3 calendared.
Second California state bellwether trial scheduled
March 9, 2026
Trial Pool 2 set to begin.
Jury selection in nation's first social media addiction trial
January 22, 2026
Jury selection begins with anonymous jurors to limit influence; arguments set to follow in key trial.
Wrongful death lawsuit against Meta filed
December 23, 2025
Two families sue Meta over Instagram's failure to prevent teen sextortion schemes.
Massachusetts Supreme Court hears Meta arguments
December 10, 2025
Court hears arguments on whether Meta must face claims of addicting children via Instagram.
Jury selection scheduled for first California state bellwether trial
November 19, 2025
Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl schedules jury selection for Trial Pool 1 in Los Angeles Superior Court, with trial to follow; first state trial set for week of November 24.
Plaintiffs demand unredacted Meta documents
November 18, 2025
Plaintiffs ask Los Angeles court to compel Meta to provide internal documents on youth harm research.
States seek consolidation in MDL
November 21, 2025
29 state attorneys general request consolidating claims into a single trial.
Federal judge selects first test trials
July 18, 2025
Judge selects first bellwether trials in federal MDL, focusing on school districts.
Judge modifies federal MDL pre-trial schedule
November 1, 2024
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers updates pre-trial schedule through November 2025; dismisses claims against Mark Zuckerberg personally but allows cases against Meta to proceed.
Bellwether plaintiffs selected for discovery
June 17, 2024
Judge anticipates selecting 24 plaintiffs for bellwether discovery.
Discovery disputes in social media addiction lawsuits
May 6, 2024
Lawsuits progress amid disputes over discovery in California state court.
First social media addiction lawsuit filed
January 2022
Social Media Victims Law Center files the initial case, later consolidated into federal MDL.