Snap, YouTube, and TikTok settle suit over harm to students

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social-media lawsuit schools addiction mental-health settlement

Summary

Snap, YouTube, and TikTok have settled the first lawsuit alleging social media addiction harmed students and strained school budgets, with terms undisclosed; Meta still faces trial in the same case.

<figure> <img alt="A person holding up a smartphone with their face covered by pixels" data-caption="Schools say social media is hurting grades and creating a mental health crisis. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/STKS526_SOCIAL_MEDIA_TRIAL_CVIRGINIA_D_1b4bb5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Schools say social media is hurting grades and creating a mental health crisis. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Snap, YouTube, and TikTok have settled the first lawsuit of its kind, alleging that social media addiction has cost public schools massive amounts of money, according to <em><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-15/snap-youtube-settle-school-social-media-suit-ahead-of-trial">Bloomberg</a></em>. The suit, filed by the Breathitt County School District in Kentucky, claims that social media has disrupted learning and created a mental health crisis, straining budgets. The terms of the settlement have not been revealed yet, and Meta is still facing a trial in the same suit, which is viewed as a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/867830/social-media-trials-product-liability-school-districts">bellwether</a> for over 1,000 similar lawsuits across the country</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This follows an earlier case, settled by <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/864735/snap-reaches-a-settlement-in-a-social-media-addiction-lawsuit">Snap</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/868619/tiktok-moves-to-settle-a-major-social-media-addiction-case-shortly-before-trial">TikTok</a>, in which a 19-year-old plaintiff claimed signif …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/932153/snap-youtube-tiktok-lawsuit-social-media-addiction-schools">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
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# Snap, YouTube, and TikTok settle suit over harm to students Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/932153/snap-youtube-tiktok-lawsuit-social-media-addiction-schools](https://www.theverge.com/tech/932153/snap-youtube-tiktok-lawsuit-social-media-addiction-schools) [![Terrence O'Brien](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/TERRENCE_BLURPLE.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=96)](https://www.theverge.com/authors/terrence-obrien) Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor\. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget\. Snap, YouTube, and TikTok have settled the first lawsuit of its kind, alleging that social media addiction has cost public schools massive amounts of money, according to*[Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-15/snap-youtube-settle-school-social-media-suit-ahead-of-trial)*\. The suit, filed by the Breathitt County School District in Kentucky, claims that social media has disrupted learning and created a mental health crisis, straining budgets\. The terms of the settlement have not been revealed yet, and Meta is still facing a trial in the same suit, which is viewed as a[bellwether](https://www.theverge.com/policy/867830/social-media-trials-product-liability-school-districts)for over 1,000 similar lawsuits across the country This follows an earlier case, settled by[Snap](https://www.theverge.com/news/864735/snap-reaches-a-settlement-in-a-social-media-addiction-lawsuit)and[TikTok](https://www.theverge.com/news/868619/tiktok-moves-to-settle-a-major-social-media-addiction-case-shortly-before-trial), in which a 19\-year\-old plaintiff claimed significant personal injury due to addictive social media apps\. Google and Meta did not agree to a settlement in that suit, and it eventually went to trial, where a jury awarded the plaintiff[$6 million](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-26/meta-google-risk-big-tobacco-like-fallout-after-addiction-trial)\. Meta also recently lost a suit brought by New Mexico’s Attorney General, to the tune of[$375 million](https://www.theverge.com/policy/922380/new-mexico-meta-public-nuisance-trial-kids-safety)\. Beyond monetary awards, many, including New Mexico, are pushing for[significant changes](https://www.theverge.com/policy/923653/meta-new-mexico-public-nuisance-injunctive-relief)to social media apps to limit their harm to minors\. And this is just the start of what’s shaping up to be a busy year for social media lawsuits\. According to*[Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-15/snap-youtube-settle-school-social-media-suit-ahead-of-trial)*, lawyers representing school districts said their “focus remains on pursuing justice for the remaining 1,200 school districts who have filed cases\.” **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Terrence O'Brien

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