Meta settles major lawsuit over social media addiction claims

According to The Guardian, less than three weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial in a federal court in California. Kentucky is among nearly 1,200 school districts across the United States that have joined lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube, accusing the companies of contributing to a growing youth mental health crisis. TikTok, Snap and YouTube have also recently reached settlements with Kentucky.

“We resolved this matter amicably and remain focused on our long-term work to build protections such as Teen Accounts, which help keep teens safe online while giving parents simple tools to support their families,” a Meta spokesperson said. The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, did not disclose the terms of the settlement.

A spokesperson for YouTube said the matter had also been settled confidentially, adding that the company has spent more than a decade working with teachers, school administrators and parents to create safer and more beneficial online experiences for students.

TikTok and Snap did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit was brought by Breathitt County Schools, a small rural school district in Kentucky. The district accused social media companies of creating addictive products that contributed to anxiety, depression and self-harm among students, leaving schools to deal with the consequences.

According to the complaint, the district sought more than $60 million to cover mental health-related costs and fund a 15-year program aimed at addressing the issue. Attorneys also requested a court order requiring social media companies to redesign platform features to make them less addictive.

Despite the settlement, Meta continues to face legal challenges. Lawyers representing the school districts said on Thursday that their focus remains on “securing justice” for the remaining 1,200 districts involved in similar cases.

Two additional lawsuits against social media companies are expected to go to trial in July. One was filed by an individual in a California state court, while another was brought in federal court by the attorney general of Tennessee. Another school district case, filed by the Tucson Unified School District, is scheduled for trial in January 2027.