Judge picks six school districts for first bellwether trials of social media addiction MDL

Social media addiction MDL overview: 

• Who: U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers selected six bellwether school districts in a social media addiction multidistrict litigation (MDL) against social media giants such as YouTube and Meta Platforms.
• Why: The bellwether trials will be the first in the sprawling MDL over claims social media is addictive.
• Where: The MDL is in California federal court.
• How to Get Help: If your child has suffered mental health issues linked to using Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Snapchat, you may have legal options. See if you qualify.

A California federal judge on Friday chose six school districts for the first bellwether trials in a sprawling multidistrict litigation over claims social media is addictive.

The MDL, which was consolidated in 2022, revolves around hundreds of claims that social media giants such as YouTube and Meta Platforms and others designed their platforms — like Instagram and Facebook — to be addictive, harming the health and livelihoods of minors in the process, reports Law360. 

Claims have reportedly been brought against the social media companies by personal injury plaintiffs, schools and attorneys general. 

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers chose bellwether school districts in Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, South Carolina and Arizona. There will be three defense case picks and three plaintiff school district case picks, making six bellwether trials in total, reports Law360. 

Gonzalez Rogers reportedly said she wanted the bellwether trials to represent a variety of demographic areas around the country, in addition to communities with different socioeconomic backgrounds.  

Judge rejects Utah school district as bellwether trial

The judge rejected a proposal for a Utah school district plaintiff for a bellwether trial, instead choosing school districts from Hartford, Maryland, Georgia, and Kentucky, due to them reflecting “high, medium and low-income” school districts, reports Law360. 

A school district in Irvington, New Jersey, was also reportedly selected partly due to the diversity of its student body, which is primarily made up of students from underrepresented communities.

Gonzalez Rogers also chose a school district in Tucson, Arizona and Charleston, South Carolina, both of which have an ethnically mixed student body, reports Law360.

TikTok reportedly argued that the Tucson school district should not be included due to having a history of racial segregation; however, Gonzalez Rogers ruled she was “not convinced at all” that any historical desegregation policies have anything to do with the claims made in the MDL. 

The judge previously declined to dismiss the MDL, ruling last year that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged the companies contributed to negative mental health outcomes for students.

If your child has suffered mental health issues linked to using Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Snapchat, you may have legal options. See if you qualify.

The social media addiction MDL is In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 4:22-md-03047, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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