Meta and Snap are preparing to face a landmark trial in Los Angeles over allegations that their social media platforms harmed young users, as legal challenges and regulatory scrutiny intensify across the United States and Europe.
Jury selection is expected to begin on Wednesday, with opening statements scheduled for November 4 unless further settlements are reached. The case brings Meta and, for the first time in this series of proceedings, Snap before a jury over claims that their platforms encouraged compulsive use and contributed to mental and physical health problems among teenagers.
The trial combines two cases brought by plaintiffs identified as SJ and KDB. TikTok and YouTube, which were initially named as defendants, reached settlements before the proceedings. Meta settled with SJ but has not reached an agreement with KDB.
According to court documents, SJ began using Snapchat compulsively at the age of 13 and subsequently experienced mental health problems, an eating disorder and self-harm, her lawyers claim. KDB, now 18 and from Mississippi, allegedly developed compulsive use of Meta and Snap platforms, worsening his mental and physical health.
Meta has rejected similar allegations, saying it would defend itself against what it described as baseless lawsuits. Snap is expected to argue that Snapchat differs from Instagram and Facebook because its main purpose is messaging.
The trial could feature testimony from prominent executives, including Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel, beginning in mid-November.
The case follows a March verdict in which a US jury found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young user identified as KGM and ordered the companies to pay a combined $6 million (€5.4 million). Snap and TikTok settled with the plaintiff before that trial.
Meta has also faced substantial legal penalties in New Mexico. Earlier this month, a judge ordered the company to pay $25 billion (€22.5 billion) in a case concerning allegations that it misled users about how their data was used. A separate jury decision found the company liable for harms to children, resulting in a combined penalty of $942 million (€846.7 million).
In August, Meta agreed to pay more than $18 billion (€16.1 billion) in penalties and make changes to Instagram and Facebook for teenagers as part of a settlement with 52 attorneys general.
Growing scrutiny in Europe
Legal action against social media companies is also expanding across Europe. In France, families have pursued cases against TikTok over allegedly harmful content, with litigation involving 16 families after an initial group of seven filed a lawsuit in November 2024.
In Italy, families and the Italian Parents’ Movement have sought stronger age verification, greater transparency about algorithms and restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling.
The European Commission has also intensified its enforcement of the Digital Services Act. It has raised concerns about TikTok’s design and child safety measures, opened an investigation into Snapchat and found that Meta failed to take sufficient steps to protect children from accessing its services.
The legal and regulatory pressure reflects growing concern that social media design features may encourage excessive use among young people. Governments are also considering age restrictions, including proposals to limit access for children under 15.
The Los Angeles trial is expected to add to the growing body of legal challenges that could push social media companies to change how their platforms operate and protect younger users.
