Teen withdraws lawsuit accusing Meta, Google and Snap of social media harm

MUMBAI: One case has logged off, but the wider social media legal battle is far from over. A 15-year-old girl from New Jersey has withdrawn her lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Google and Snap, in which she alleged that Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat contributed to social media addiction, depression and self-harm.

The case, identified as P. M-Y. in California court records, was one of three bellwether trials selected from more than 3,300 similar lawsuits consolidated in California state court. The cases were due to go to trial in October and were intended to offer an early indication of how juries could respond to the wider claims.

P. M-Y.’s lawyer Emily Jeffcott said the teenager chose to end the remaining claims because she wanted to move on with her life. Jeffcott said the lawsuit had originally been brought to seek accountability from social media companies and encourage changes aimed at better protecting young users.

The companies said the teenager dismissed her claims without receiving any payment. TikTok, which was also named as a defendant, had previously reached a settlement with her.

Meta said the teenager had a significant mental health condition before she began using social media and argued that the case reflected a pattern seen in many of the lawsuits it faces. The company said it would continue defending the remaining claims.

YouTube said the dismissal was consistent with its position that it provides age-appropriate experiences and parental controls, while Snap said it remained focused on safety, privacy and user wellbeing.

The withdrawal does not remove the broader legal pressure on the technology companies. The consolidated litigation involves thousands of claims brought by individuals, states and school districts over allegations that social media platforms were designed to encourage addictive use among children and that companies misled the public about potential safety risks.

Meta is currently facing two trials involving such allegations. One is proceeding in federal court in Oakland, California, while another case involving Tennessee is being heard in state court in Nashville.

Two other lawsuits brought by teenagers against Meta, Google and Snap are scheduled to go to trial in October, with TikTok having settled those cases.

The litigation has already produced a significant financial warning shot. In March, the first individual trial resulted in damages of $4.2 million against Meta and $1.8 million against Google after a woman alleged that she became addicted to social media at a young age because of the design of the platforms. TikTok and Snap had settled before that trial.

With the New Jersey teenager’s case now off the docket, the spotlight shifts back to the remaining trials, where the question of how much responsibility social media companies bear for the experiences of young users remains firmly in court.