Meta Platforms has reached a settlement with an 18-year-old woman who accused the company of designing Instagram and Facebook features that encouraged addictive social media use and contributed to mental health problems, including depression and eating disorders.
The settlement was announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, after jury selection had begun in a Los Angeles trial examining allegations that social media platforms deliberately encourage excessive use among young people.
The plaintiff, identified in court documents as K.D.B., claimed that she developed unhealthy social media habits after using online platforms from an early age. She and another teenage plaintiff had accused Meta and other technology companies of contributing to their mental health struggles through features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling.
Meta had already reached a settlement with the second plaintiff before the trial began. Both individuals had also settled their claims against TikTok and YouTube, leaving Snapchat’s parent company, Snap, as the remaining defendant in the case.
The lawsuit is part of thousands of legal claims filed against social media companies in the United States over their alleged impact on children’s mental health.
Meta and other technology companies have rejected claims that their platforms were deliberately designed to cause addiction. They have also maintained that they have introduced safety features and protections to improve the online experience for younger users.
The case is attracting attention because it is among a series of selected test cases that could influence how similar lawsuits are handled.
In a separate case in March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a lawsuit involving a young woman who claimed social media addiction contributed to her mental health problems. The companies were ordered to pay a combined $6 million in damages.
The latest settlement adds to growing legal pressure on technology companies to address concerns about the effects of social media on children and teenagers.
As the remaining case against Snap moves forward, the wider debate over online safety, platform responsibility and the protection of young users continues to attract attention.
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