YouTube, Snap, and TikTok have also reached settlements, but thousands of cases remain to be addressed. Following consecutive losses in trials concerning their effects on teenagers’ mental health, Meta has settled its anticipated legal battle with Kentucky’s Breathitt County School District. YouTube, Snap, and TikTok recently settled similar claims with the district, which sought compensation to offset the costs of tackling mental health issues linked to social media.
The trial was scheduled to start in June as the first among federal multidistrict litigation cases, including claims from school districts, state attorneys general, and individuals against these platforms. Similar cases are progressing in a California state court in Los Angeles, where the first trial in that group recently occurred. The objective is to try sample cases to guide settlement talks for the remaining cases.
The settlement terms with Breathitt County School District weren’t disclosed. Attorneys Lexi Hazam, Previn Warren, Chris Seeger, and Ronald Johnson emphasized their ongoing commitment to seeking justice for the remaining 1,200 school districts with filed cases.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated the company amicably resolved the case and continues efforts to provide features like Teen Accounts to promote online safety for teens, alongside parental controls. YouTube spokesperson José Castañeda confirmed a similar amicable resolution and emphasized their commitment to age-appropriate products and parental controls. Snap spokesperson Monique Bellamy expressed satisfaction with the amicable settlement. TikTok did not immediately comment.
The next trial on social media addiction and youth mental health claims is slated to start in a Los Angeles state court in July, with the next federal trial set for January.