Snap Inc. reached a confidential settlement with two teenagers who alleged the platform’s design contributed to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. [2, 5] The agreement was reached on November 2, 2026, during jury selection for a high-stakes bellwether trial in Los Angeles. The trial was expected to set a precedent for thousands of similar cases. [4, 6]
The teenagers alleged that features such as infinite scroll and autoplay encouraged compulsive use. [2, 4] Snap was the last remaining defendant in the trial; the plaintiffs had previously settled with Meta Platforms, Google’s YouTube, and TikTok. [2, 6]
The settlement allows Snap to avoid a jury verdict in broader litigation brought by individuals, school districts, and states over social media’s effects on youth mental health. [1, 2]