Social Media Giants Face Legal Reckoning: First Trials Test Their Defense Against Teen Mental Health Claims

For the first time in U.S. history, social media executives will face juries over claims their platforms harmed teens—marking a legal reckoning years in the making.

The first bellwether trials against Meta, TikTok, and YouTube for alleged teen mental health harms begin this month in California, with Snap having already settled. Over 2,000 consolidated cases (state and federal) allege social media platforms caused teen addiction and mental health issues, with outcomes expected to shape global settlements.

Matthew Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center said:

"The simple fact that a social media company is going to have to stand trial before a jury and account for its design decisions is unprecedented in American jurisprudence."

Internal documents, including a Meta researcher comparing Instagram to a drug, have already emerged, signaling potential evidence in trials. The New Mexico case against Meta, set for February, challenges Section 230 protections, with the state alleging the platform created a "marketplace for predators in search of children."

Companies deny claims, citing "robust policies" and "longstanding commitment to supporting young people," though Meta’s spokesperson called the New Mexico case "sensationalist." Bellwether trials aim to inform settlement terms for thousands of remaining cases, similar to the opioid litigation model.