Meta Walks Away as Snap Left to Face Addiction Trial Alone

Meta Walks Away as Snap Left to Face Addiction Trial Alone

Second Deal in Two Days Clears Meta From November Trial

Meta settled with 18-year-old plaintiff K.D.B. on Oct. 30, days after settling with 16-year-old plaintiff S.J. in the same Los Angeles case. The terms of both agreements are confidential. The deals remove Meta from the trial scheduled for November and keep CEO Mark Zuckerberg off the witness stand.

Two Teens Cite Years of Compulsive Scrolling and Distress

The plaintiffs are S.J., 16, of Illinois, and K.D.B., 18, of Mississippi. They say they began using YouTube as early as age 3 and other platforms around age 9, developing compulsive habits tied to features such as autoplay and infinite scroll. They describe staying awake for hours scrolling, losing focus in class, and suffering serious mental-health injuries. The case was filed in 2023 against Meta and Snap. TikTok and YouTube had already settled with these plaintiffs.

Denying Liability While Settling Has Become Meta's Playbook

Meta said it will continue to defend itself in court and stands by its record, while court filings say the company denies the allegations and any liability. No settlement amount was disclosed. The move follows an August deal worth about $18 billion with 47 states, three territories and the District of Columbia to resolve attorneys general claims that its platforms harmed teens, alongside changes to how Instagram and Facebook work for teens.

Snap Stands Alone as Spiegel Faces First Trial Testimony

With Meta out, Snap is the sole remaining defendant. Jury selection began this week in Los Angeles, with opening statements scheduled for Nov. 4 before Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is expected to testify, his first testimony in a social media addiction trial. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri had also been expected as a key witness while Meta was still in the case.

March Verdict Raised Stakes for Thousands of Pending Cases

In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in the first bellwether case and awarded a young woman $6 million in damages. Lawyers say the current trial could run until mid-December. The two plaintiffs' cases are among more than 3,000 lawsuits consolidated in Los Angeles Superior Court, and the outcome could shape demands for third-party age verification, removal of allegedly predatory features, and health warnings. Discussion: If you were setting the rules for your own family, at what age would you let a child open a social media account, and what limit would you actually enforce?