US Teen Drops Lawsuit Against Meta, Google, and Snap Ahead of Trial

A 15-year-old girl from New Jersey, identified as P.M-Y., has dropped her lawsuit against Meta, Google, and Snap Inc., which alleged that their platforms contributed to her social media addiction, depression, and self-harm. The lawsuit was considered a test case in a broader wave of litigation targeting social media companies.

According to court filings, the companies stated that the plaintiff dropped her claims without any payment. TikTok, also a defendant, had previously settled the girl's claims. Emily Jeffcott, an attorney for P.M-Y., issued a statement explaining that her client chose to dismiss the remaining claims to resume her life, having initiated the process with the goal of holding companies accountable and pushing for changes to protect young people.

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This plaintiff had a significant mental health condition that pre-dated her use of social media, and it's clear that many of these cases fit the same pattern.

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is currently defending itself in two trials concerning allegations that it designed its platforms to be addictive to children and misled the public about their safety. One trial, involving claims from 29 states, is underway in federal court in Oakland, California, while another, brought by Tennessee, is proceeding in state court in Nashville.

P.M-Y.'s lawsuit was one of over 3,300 personal injury cases consolidated in California state court. It had been selected as one of three "bellwether" cases scheduled for trial in October, intended to gauge jury sentiment on similar claims and guide settlement negotiations. Meta stated that the plaintiff had a significant mental health condition predating her social media use, suggesting many such cases follow a similar pattern. Google-owned YouTube and Snap Inc. reiterated their commitment to providing safe experiences for young users and strengthening safety measures.

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our longstanding position that we provide safe, age-appropriate experiences and strong parental controls for young people and families.