Individual cases in federal court
Thousands of personal injury cases against Meta (Instagram and Facebook), Snap (Snapchat), ByteDance (TikTok) and Google (YouTube) are grouped in one federal proceeding, In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3047, before Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California. School districts’ cases are in the same proceeding.
An MDL is not a class action. Pretrial work, such as gathering evidence from the companies, is shared, but each family’s case remains its own. The first school-district trial, involving Breathitt County, Kentucky, was resolved by settlement before trial in 2026.
Individual cases in California state court
Cases filed in California state court are coordinated in Los Angeles Superior Court as JCCP 5255, before Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl.
- The first jury verdict (K.G.M.). On March 25, 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable to a 20-year-old woman who said she began using the apps as a child. It awarded $6 million: $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. The jury assigned Meta 70% of the responsibility and YouTube 30%. TikTok and Snap settled with her before trial. The verdict is on appeal.
- The next trial is scheduled to begin October 28, 2026, with two teenage plaintiffs whose claims are being tried together against Meta and Snap. TikTok and YouTube settled with those plaintiffs before trial.
Cases brought by states
- New Mexico: $942 million. In New Mexico’s child-safety case, a jury imposed $375 million in civil penalties, and the court ordered another $567 million toward youth mental health, along with five years of court-supervised safety changes. Meta is appealing.
- Multistate settlement: up to $17.1 billion. On August 26, 2026, Meta settled a lawsuit brought by 51 attorneys general. Meta will pay the states at least $12.1 billion, rising to $17.1 billion if other major platforms reach similar settlements. Meta also agreed to changes for users under 18, including age verification, a two-hour daily limit across Facebook and Instagram (with exceptions for messaging), no access from midnight to 6 a.m., and hidden like counts.
The state cases do not pay individual families. The money goes to state programs. A family is compensated only through its own injury case, which is why each child’s records and timeline matter. If you think your child may have a claim, start the confidential questionnaire.
Sources, checked October 25, 2026: New York Attorney General, August 26, 2026 settlement announcement; New Mexico Department of Justice, $942 million judgment; ABC7, K.G.M. verdict; K.G.M. v. Meta (case summary); Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Trial dates can change. Past verdicts and settlements do not predict the result of another case.
Questions people ask us
Is there a social media addiction settlement for families?
Not a general one. The largest settlement so far, up to $17.1 billion, resolved claims brought by state attorneys general, and the money goes to the states. Individual families’ cases are still active in federal and California state court.
Does the K.G.M. verdict mean my child’s case will win?
No. It shows that a jury accepted these claims on one young woman’s facts. Every case depends on its own evidence, and the verdict is on appeal.
Is it too late to file?
Not necessarily. New individual cases are still being filed. Filing deadlines depend on the state and the person’s age, so ask a lawyer about your child’s situation.