Most Recent Data News – As of Feb 2026
Social media lawsuits, specifically MDL No. 3047, accuse major platforms of deliberately designing addictive,…
Social media lawsuits, specifically MDL No. 3047, accuse major platforms of deliberately designing addictive, algorithm-driven features that harm adolescent mental health. These suits allege platforms cause anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicide risks.
COMPANIES INCLUDED: Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Snap (Snapchat), ByteDance (TikTok), and Google (YouTube)
Key Aspects of the Claims (As of Feb 2026):
- Addictive Design: Plaintiffs argue companies used techniques similar to slot machines (infinite scrolling, streaks, notifications) to maximize engagement.
- Mental Health Impact: Allegations include causing severe anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders in minors.
- Legal Arguments: Companies cite Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as protection against liability for user content
THEIR CLAIM – There is NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF for this claim.
Current Status: As of late January 2026, TikTok and Snap settled, while lawsuits against Meta and YouTube will proceed to trial. The litigation involves thousands of personal injury cases, school districts, and state attorneys general are seeking damages and platform design changes.
And early 2026. privacy class actions are looming, including a significant one for Google secretly recording private conversations via Google Assistant, settling at $68M in the suit.
Privacy Violations on Google Assistant: alleging the Assistant recorded private conversations without consent after false activations (not hearing “Hey Google”) and shared data with advertisers.
