Snapchat bellwether lawsuit overview:
- Who: Snap Inc. has settled a bellwether case over claims its social media platform harms young users’ mental health.
- Why: The Snapchat settlement comes just days before the case was set to go to trial.
- Where: The Snapchat lawsuit was filed in California state court.
- How to Get Help: If you or your child experienced social media addiction or mental health issues linked to excessive platform use, you may qualify to take legal action.
Snap Inc. has reached a settlement agreement in a bellwether case over claims its social media platform Snapchat harms young users’ mental health, just days before the case was scheduled to go to trial.
The plaintiff in the case, identified as K.G.M., alleged in her Snapchat lawsuit that the social media company purposely induced young people to compulsively use its platform.
The Snapchat lawsuit was the first social media harm bellwether trial scheduled among more than 1,000 cases that have been coordinated in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Snapchat settlement does not resolve other cases, attorney says
According to a Law360 report, Mark Lanier, attorney to the plaintiff, told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl that the Snapchat settlement resolves his client’s case and another case filed by K.G.M.’s sister. However, the Snapchat settlement does not resolve the other cases consolidated before Judge Kuhl, Lanier said.
The Snapchat settlement means that Snap CEO Evan Spiegel will no longer be called to testify in the trial, Lanier told reporters after the hearing.
In October, Judge Kuhl ruled that Spiegel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri must testify at the bellwether trial. Lanier said he expects to call Zuckerberg as the trial’s second witness, Law360 reports.
The Snapchat lawsuit is part of a larger multidistrict litigation over claims that various platforms engage in social media harm, especially to the mental health of young users.
In March 2025, a California federal judge dismissed some claims against social media companies, including Meta and Snap, involved in a multidistrict litigation. However, claims of general negligence and wrongful death were allowed to proceed.
What do you think about the Snapchat settlement? Tell us in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Mariana A. McConnell of Kiesel Law LLP, Rachel Lanier and W. Mark Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm, Rahul Ravipudi of Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP, Adam S. Davis of Wagstaff & Cartmell and Joseph VanZandt of Beasley Allen Law Firm.
The Snapchat lawsuit is Social Media Cases, Case No. JCCP5255 and Lead Case No. 22STCV21355, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
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