Snap Inc. Settles with Social Media Addiction, Ending Second Bellwether Trial

Posted: November 3, 2026

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Snap Inc. has reached a settlement with the two plaintiffs in the second social media bellwether trial in California, according to Law360. The settlement was announced during jury selection, effectively ending the trial before it began.

This announcement comes just days after Meta Platforms Inc. informed the court on Friday, October 30, that it had settled with plaintiff K.D.B., clearing it from the trial. Meta settled with the other plaintiff, S.J., earlier in October.

ByteDance’s TikTok and Google’s YouTube, who were also defendants in these cases, reached out-of-court settlements ahead of trial.

These two cases are part of the Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding in California, known as the Social Media Cases (JCCP5255). In August, K.D.B. and S.J. asked to have their cases combined for trial because of their similarities. K.D.B. is an 18-year-old from Mississippi, while S.J. is a minor from Illinois. Both plaintiffs allege that addiction to Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat during their youth negatively impacted their mental health.

The first bellwether trial in the JCCP occurred in March and resulted in a $6 million verdict. In that case, a jury found Meta and Google liable for the depression and anxiety in a young woman who became addicted to their social media platforms as a child. Since then, as other cases approached trial, social media companies have chosen to settle with JCCP plaintiffs.

The case of R.K.C., a teenager from Florida, was expected to go to trial in late July. However, he settled with Snap, Google, and ByteDance, and dropped his claim against Meta before that date. The cases of K.D.B. and S.J. were subsequently scheduled for trial.

The next personal injury social media addiction bellwether trial is scheduled for March.

Levin Papantonio’s Role in Social Media Litigation

Levin Papantonio (LP) represents families affected by social media addiction and other harm involving platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

Our attorneys have also held court-appointed leadership roles in multidistrict litigation. Since 2022, LP Shareholder Emmie Paulos has served on the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Litigation, a multidistrict litigation organized in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The committee assists with discovery, legal strategy, expert development, and case preparation as the litigation proceeds.

Sources