Meta has settled with two teenagers who accused Instagram and Facebook of deliberately encouraging addiction and harming their mental health, leaving Snapchat’s parent company, Snap, to face a Los Angeles jury alone.
The latest settlement, announced Friday, October 30, 2026, resolves claims brought by an 18-year-old Mississippi woman identified in court <a s platforms contributed to depression, disordered eating, and other psychological harm. Meta had reached a separate agreement with a 16-year-old Illinois girl, identified as S.J., earlier in the week. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Jury selection began Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where the teenagers’ lawsuits were selected for trial from thousands of similar claims against major <a s YouTube had already settled with both plaintiffs, leaving Snap as the sole remaining defendant.
The teenagers alleged that the companies designed features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and Snapchat streaks to encourage compulsive use among children. Both said they began using <a design decisions rather than individual posts. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally shields online platforms from liability for content created by users, but courts have allowed certain claims involving the companies' own features to proceed.
Snap has disputed the allegations, maintaining that its <a s design and safety practices
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who had been expected to testify alongside Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, will now avoid taking the stand in the trial.
The settlements follow a March verdict in which a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent and awarded $6 million to a young woman who alleged their platforms harmed her mental health. Jurors assigned 70% of the damages, or $4.2 million, to Meta and the remaining $1.8 million to YouTube. Meta is appealing the verdict.
Thousands of young users and families have filed similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of knowingly exposing children to harmful platform features. The Los Angeles proceedings are among several test trials that could influence how those claims are handled nationwide.
In August, Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to resolve separate claims brought by state attorneys general over alleged harm to young users. The agreement also requires changes to teen accounts, including daily screen-time limits and restrictions on nighttime access.
Meta has denied deliberately designing its platforms to addict children, arguing that teenage mental health is influenced by multiple factors. The company said it would continue defending itself against other lawsuits and pointed to safety measures developed for younger users.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl is overseeing the trial against Snap, with opening statements scheduled for November 4. Spiegel is expected to testify as proceedings continue into December.
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Bridget Luckey
Bridget studied Communications and Marketing at California State University, Long Beach. She also has experience in the live music events industry, which has allowed her to travel to festivals around the world. During this period, she acquired valuable expertise in branding, marketing, event planning, and public relations.
