Teens harmed by Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Youtube, and Facebook may be entitled to compensation. A landmark jury just awarded $6M. Find out if you qualify.
Start Your Free Case Review →American children are in crisis — and a landmark jury verdict handed down on March 25, 2026 confirms that the social media platforms at the center of that crisis can be held legally accountable. A Los Angeles jury found Meta (Instagram/Facebook) and Google (YouTube) liable for designing addictive products that harmed a young woman’s mental health, awarding her $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages — the first such verdict in the United States. If your child was harmed by Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, or YouTube, you may be entitled to significant compensation. According to a complaint filed December 15, 2023 in the Northern District of California as part of MDL No. 3047, these platforms were deliberately engineered to maximize the time children spend on them — exploiting the very features of developing brains to create compulsive, harmful use. Carey & Danis LLC is actively investigating claims on behalf of children and families across the country.
The litigation known as In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3047) is one of the largest mass tort proceedings in U.S. history. It consolidates cases brought on behalf of children, school districts, and state attorneys general against Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Snap’s Snapchat.
According to the Second Amended Master Complaint (Personal Injury) filed by plaintiffs in the MDL, these companies deliberately designed their platforms to exploit the psychology and developing neurology of children and adolescents. Rather than building safe products, plaintiffs allege, the defendants borrowed techniques from the gambling and tobacco industries to trigger compulsive use — then concealed what their own internal research showed about the harm they were causing.
The complaint alleges a common playbook across all platforms: algorithmically generated, endless content feeds designed to induce a scrolling “flow state”; “intermittent variable reward” features that manipulate dopamine delivery in the same way slot machines do; social comparison features that fuel anxiety and negative body image; inadequate age-verification measures that allowed underage users onto platforms despite rules to the contrary; and parental control tools that provided only an illusion of protection.
The platforms were defectively designed products — not neutral spaces — that targeted children as a core market because young users generate more advertising revenue and more valuable data. Plaintiffs allege the defendants understood the risks, concealed internal research, and chose growth over child safety.
On March 25, 2026, a jury in Los Angeles County Superior Court made history. In K.G.M. v. Meta and Alphabet (YouTube), the jury unanimously found Meta and Google liable in the design of their platforms — specifically finding that their conduct was a substantial factor in causing serious mental health harm to a young woman who began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine. The jury awarded her $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages, finding that the companies acted with malice, oppression, or fraud in their treatment of young users.
The verdict allocated responsibility between the defendants: Meta was found 70% responsible and ordered to pay $4.2 million; Google was found 30% responsible and ordered to pay $1.8 million.
This is what is known as a bellwether verdict — a test case selected from thousands of pending suits to gauge how juries respond to the evidence and legal arguments. The outcome does not automatically resolve other cases, but it powerfully signals what direction the litigation may take. Legal commentators have compared this moment to the early tobacco verdicts — a turning point after which large-scale settlement negotiations often begin in earnest.
Based on the allegations in the MDL complaints, individuals who may be eligible to bring a claim include:
The complaint does not limit claims to any particular state — cases have been filed by plaintiffs from across the country. Eligibility will depend on the specific circumstances of each individual case, including the type of platform used, the nature of the injuries, and applicable state statutes of limitations.
The attorneys at Carey & Danis LLC offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We review your situation, answer your questions, and let you know honestly whether you may have a viable claim. There is no cost and no commitment. Get your free case review now.
According to the Second Amended Master Complaint filed in MDL 3047, plaintiffs have alleged a wide range of harms caused by their use of defendants’ platforms, including:
Damages in individual cases will vary based on the specific injuries, the extent of medical treatment required, and the conduct of each defendant with respect to each plaintiff. Cases like this have resulted in compensation for medical and psychological treatment costs, lost wages or impaired earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. Punitive damages may also be available where a defendant’s conduct is found especially egregious.
The first bellwether trial resulted in a $6 million award. No specific outcome can be promised in any individual case, and results will vary.
⚠ Time-Sensitive: Deadlines Apply
Statutes of limitations vary by state and case type. In many states, the clock starts running at the time of injury or when the injury was discovered — meaning delay could permanently bar a claim. If you believe your child has been harmed, contact Carey & Danis LLC today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. There is no fee unless we win. Deadlines vary by state. Contact us immediately to find out how much time you have.
Is this a class action lawsuit?
No. MDL 3047 is not a class action. It is a multidistrict litigation — a procedural structure that consolidates thousands of individual cases before a single judge for pretrial purposes. Each plaintiff retains their own individual claim and would receive compensation based on their specific injuries, not a shared pool. This structure is common in large mass tort cases like pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.
Which social media platforms are named in the lawsuit?
The MDL involves five major platforms: Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, ByteDance’s TikTok, and Snap’s Snapchat. Note that Snap and TikTok reached settlements in the California state court (JCCP) bellwether proceedings in December 2025, but claims against all defendants continue in the federal MDL and may continue in individual state cases.
My child is still a minor. Can I file on their behalf?
Yes. The complaint is filed on behalf of children who suffered personal injuries, and in many states parents or guardians can bring claims on behalf of minor children. Additionally, statutes of limitations for minors are often tolled (paused) until they reach the age of majority, which may give your family additional time. Contact us to understand the specific rules that apply to your situation.
What is a bellwether trial and why does it matter?
A bellwether trial is a test case selected from a larger pool of similar lawsuits to go to trial first. The outcome doesn’t legally bind other cases, but it provides valuable information about how juries respond to the evidence. The March 2026 verdict finding Meta and YouTube liable is significant because it validates the core legal theory of the litigation and creates strong incentive for defendants to consider global settlement negotiations.
What evidence do I need to bring a claim?
Documentation of platform use (account records, screen time data), medical records reflecting mental health diagnoses or treatment, school records showing academic impact, and communications reflecting changes in behavior or mood can all be relevant. Our attorneys will guide you through what is needed for your specific situation during your free case evaluation.
What does it cost to hire Carey & Danis LLC?
Nothing upfront. We handle social media addiction cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential.
Is it too late to file a claim?
The litigation is still actively accepting new cases. However, statutes of limitations vary by state and begin running based on when the injury occurred or was discovered. Do not delay. Contact us immediately to find out how much time you have.
Source: Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Master Complaint (Personal Injury), In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, No. 4:22-MD-3047, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Doc. 494, filed Dec. 15, 2023). Search publicly available case materials at the MDL Centrality site for this litigation. This post is based on publicly available court filings. Carey Danis & Lowe has not independently verified all facts alleged in the complaint.
Carey & Danis LLC is a plaintiff-side class action and mass tort firm with a track record of taking on the largest corporations in the country. Our attorneys have litigated pharmaceutical, medical device, and toxic exposure cases in federal and state courts nationwide, including cases in multidistrict litigation proceedings just like MDL 3047. We understand what it takes to build strong individual cases within the MDL framework, and we fight for every dollar our clients deserve. Your consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
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