Snapchat’s parent company, Snap, has reached a settlement with two teenagers who accused the social media platform of encouraging compulsive use and contributing to serious mental health problems. The agreement ends a closely watched Los Angeles lawsuit before a jury could determine whether the company was responsible for the alleged harm.
The plaintiffs, a 16-year-old girl from Illinois and an 18-year-old woman from Mississippi, claimed that social media platforms contributed to their depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. They alleged that features designed to maintain user engagement encouraged excessive use from an early age.
According to the lawsuit, the teenagers began using YouTube when they were as young as three and other social media services around the age of nine. They argued that features including automatic video playback, endless scrolling, and Snapchat’s Snapstreaks encouraged compulsive behavior and made it difficult to stop using the applications.
The settlement was announced on November 2, 2026, after jury selection had begun in Los Angeles. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the agreement does not establish that Snapchat caused the health problems described by the plaintiffs.
The case was expected to become Snap’s first jury trial in the broader litigation concerning social media addiction among young users. Chief Executive Evan Spiegel had been expected to testify about the company’s practices and approach to user safety.
Snap has disputed allegations that its platform was deliberately designed to addict children. The company maintains that it has introduced protective features, educational resources, and partnerships with safety specialists to improve the experience of younger users.
The two plaintiffs had already resolved their claims against Meta, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube. With Snap’s agreement, the legal proceedings involving these particular plaintiffs will not continue to a jury verdict.
The lawsuit was among a series of bellwether cases selected from thousands of similar claims filed against major technology companies in the United States. These early trials are intended to help courts and litigants assess evidence and potential outcomes in related cases.
In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a separate social media addiction case and awarded a young woman $6 million in damages. That verdict did not determine Snap’s liability in the latest lawsuit.
Snap and other social media companies continue to face litigation from individuals, school districts, and government bodies alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health problems among children and teenagers.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said further bellwether trials are scheduled to begin in March 2027. The latest settlement resolves the two teenagers’ claims against Snap but leaves the broader legal disputes over social media design and youth safety ongoing.