Meta and Snap Trial to Begin in Los Angeles
Jury selection for a trial concerning social media harm allegations against Meta and Snap will begin on October 28.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Internet
Live Poll
Should social media companies be held legally responsible for harms caused to young users?
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on October 28 in Los Angeles for a consolidated trial involving allegations that Meta and Snap caused mental health issues. Plaintiffs SJ and KDB claim they were exposed to addictive social media apps starting at ages 13 and 15.
Why it matters
The trial centers on allegations that addictive app design contributes to eating disorders and self-harm, a recurring issue in thousands of lawsuits across the United States. Snap intends to distinguish its platform by arguing it serves primarily as a messaging service.
The trial addresses allegations of addictive design affecting users who began using platforms at ages 13 and 15. Previous legal actions have resulted in an $18 billion settlement with 52 attorneys-general and a separate $6 million penalty for harms to a user.
The players
Mark Zuckerberg
He is the CEO of Meta and is expected to testify in the trial starting in mid-November.
Adam Mosseri
He serves as the chief of Instagram and is anticipated to provide testimony during the proceedings.
Evan Spiegel
He is the CEO of Snap and is scheduled to appear as a witness in the upcoming trial.
Meta
This technology company is a primary defendant in lawsuits alleging its platforms cause mental health harms to teenagers.
Snap
This company operates a social media platform and is defending against claims that its design leads to self-harm and eating disorders.
The details
A California state judge consolidated the cases for SJ and KDB into a single trial after TikTok and YouTube reached settlements with the plaintiffs. Meta settled with SJ but remains a defendant alongside Snap in the case regarding KDB.
Timeline
Jury selection begins on October 28, 2026.
Opening statements are set to begin on November 4, 2026.
Star witness testimony is expected to commence in mid-November 2026.
The Tech Race
This trial follows the pattern of established liability seen in the 2026 Meta and YouTube judgment involving user KGM, which resulted in a $6 million penalty. The legal movement marks a shift in how platforms are held accountable for features alleged to cause long-term mental health impacts.
The outcome of this trial could lead to stricter design regulations for social media apps that impact how teenagers access and interact with these services. It may also influence future safety features and parental control options available to users across the country.
The takeaway
This trial represents a major escalation in the effort to hold social media companies accountable for the mental health impacts of their platform designs. Families concerned about screen time should monitor the proceedings for potential changes in how platforms manage addictive features for minors.
What happens next
Jury selection begins on October 28, 2026, followed by opening statements on November 4, 2026, and witness testimony in mid-November 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving landscape of Internet regulations and litigation.
Live Poll
Should social media companies be held legally responsible for harms caused to young users?
