Social media on trial: tech giants face lawsuits over addiction, safety, and mental health
TL;DR
Tech giants like Meta, Snap, and TikTok face trials over allegations that their platforms harm teens' mental health and safety, with executives testifying. These cases have overcome Section 230 defenses, accusing companies of designing addictive features. The trials mark a legal reckoning for social media in 2026.
A set of bellwether cases alleging that social media platforms harmed teens’ safety and mental health is going to trial this year, putting executives like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the stand to answer questions about what they’ve done or not done to protect kids.
Unlike many earlier legal challenges against social media companies, these cases managed to overcome the companies’ attempts to get them dismissed based on objections citing Section 230, a law that protects online platforms from being held liable for their users’ speech. They accuse companies like Meta, Snap, TikTok, and Google-owned YouTube of designing their platforms in ways that, the plaintiffs claim, they knew could contribute to addiction, depression, and anxiety.
Follow along below for all of the latest updates from the trials we’re currently following.
- Mark Zuckerberg and his Ray-Ban entourage have their day in court
- Zuckerberg enters the courthouse to testify about safety on Instagram.
- Mark Zuckerberg is taking the stand as social media goes on trial
- The social media addiction trial is delayed — again.
- Internal chats show how social media companies discussed teen engagement
- 2026 is the year of social media’s legal reckoning