Social Media on Trial: Judge Finalizes Pool of First Addiction Cases to Be Tried in Landmark Mass Litigation

By LP News Editor, Sara G. Stephens
July 2, 2025

A federal judge has finalized the first group of lawsuits to go to trial in the massive social media addiction multidistrict litigation (MDL). These early cases, called bellwether trials, will help show how juries respond to the evidence and legal claims in the growing number of lawsuits.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the MDL in the Northern District of California, announced her picks in late June. The selected cases include claims from school districts and families who say social media platforms have harmed young people’s mental health.

Why These Cases Matter

The MDL includes over 450 lawsuits filed against tech giants like Meta (Facebook, Instagram), TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and others. Plaintiffs claim that these platforms are intentionally addictive and dangerous to children and teens. The lawsuits say social media has led to increased rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even suicide among young users.

These first trials won’t decide all the cases, but they will give both sides a chance to see how juries react to the arguments and evidence. Bellwether trials often help shape settlement talks or influence how future cases are handled.

First School Districts Selected

Judge Rogers picked six school districts to go first. These include:

• Mesa Public Schools (Arizona)
• Sevier County Board of Education (Tennessee)
• Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Pennsylvania)
• Davis School District (Utah)
• Palm Beach County School Board (Florida)
• Clark County School District (Nevada)

These school districts argue that social media platforms are harming students and putting extra pressure on schools. Teachers and administrators are being forced to deal with more mental health crises, bullying, and disruptions caused by social media addiction.

The judge has not yet set exact trial dates, but the first school district trials are expected to start in late 2025 or early 2026.

Family Cases Are Also Moving Forward

In addition to the school districts, Judge Rogers selected five personal injury lawsuits brought by families. These include tragic cases where young people took their own lives or suffered serious mental health issues after using social media platforms excessively.

The plaintiffs in these cases claim that companies like Meta and TikTok designed their platforms to be addictive on purpose, using features like endless scrolling, push notifications, and algorithm-driven content that hooks users—especially children.

Levin Papantonio Plays Key Leadership Role

Pensacola-based law firm Levin Papantonio is one of the national leaders in this litigation. Attorney Emmie Paulos was appointed by the court as a member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee (PSC) in the MDL. The PSC is a team of experienced lawyers who help guide the direction of the litigation on behalf of all plaintiffs.

Paulos and other PSC members are working hard to gather evidence, take depositions, and fight back against the tech companies’ efforts to dismiss the cases.

You can learn more about Levin Papantonio’s work on these lawsuits by visiting their Social Media Harm Lawsuits Information Center.

“We believe these companies knew exactly what they were doing when they designed these platforms,” Paulos has said. “They prioritized profits over kids’ mental health.”

What the Lawsuits Claim

The lawsuits accuse social media companies of:

• Designing addictive features that keep users engaged for hours
• Failing to warn users and parents about the mental health risks
• Targeting young users with algorithms that promote harmful content
• Ignoring warnings from mental health experts and whistleblowers

Some platforms have been accused of pushing content related to self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide to young users, especially girls.

According to the Levin Papantonio team, research shows that social media addiction can cause changes in the brain, much like drug addiction. The constant need for likes, shares, and attention can lead to emotional distress, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts.

The Cost to Schools and Communities

School districts are seeing the real-world impact of social media addiction every day. Teachers report more classroom disruptions, and school counselors say they are overwhelmed with students dealing with anxiety and depression linked to social media.

The school district lawsuits claim that tech companies should be held financially responsible for the cost of:

• Hiring more counselors and security staff
• Creating mental health programs
• Handling cyberbullying and online threats
• Responding to student suicides and self-harm

These costs are rising fast, and districts say they simply can’t keep up.

Big Tech Pushes Back

The tech companies being sued deny that their platforms are to blame. They argue that they offer tools to limit screen time and allow parents to monitor their children’s activity.

They also claim they can’t be held responsible for the actions of users on their platforms, citing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives internet companies broad legal protections.

But plaintiffs’ lawyers, including those at Levin Papantonio, say that Section 230 does not apply to design choices that create addiction and cause harm.

What Happens Next?

Now that the first bellwether trials have been selected, both sides will focus on preparing for trial. This includes bringing in experts to explain how the platforms affect the brain. “Fact discovery has been closed, and parties are now exchanging expert reports and preparing for expert depositions,” Paulos said.

Jury selection and trial preparation could take months. In the meantime, new lawsuits continue to be filed.

What Parents Can Do

If you are a parent who believes your child has suffered serious mental health issues due to social media, you may be eligible to take legal action. Levin Papantonio is currently reviewing cases for:

• Teens with diagnosed anxiety, depression, or eating disorders
• Children who attempted or died by suicide after using social media
• Families who noticed significant behavioral changes linked to social media use

You can visit the firm’s Social Media Harm Lawsuits page to learn more and contact an attorney.

A Turning Point in Tech Accountability?

These upcoming trials may be a major turning point in how the legal system holds tech companies accountable. For years, critics have warned about the mental health risks of social media use among young people. Now, juries will finally get a chance to hear the evidence and decide if these companies should pay for the harm they allegedly caused.

Stay tuned to LP News for updates as the bellwether trials approach.