Meta, the company behind Instagram and Facebook, has spent years in courtrooms arguing that its platforms are safe and not addictive for kids. But local governments and individuals have taken the social media giant to court, claiming that its digital products are responsible for a mental health crisis unfolding across the country. 

On August 26, 2026, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to resolve lawsuits brought by dozens of state attorneys general. As part of that deal, the company is being forced to make sweeping changes to how Instagram and Facebook work for teen users. 

But the fight is far from over. Thousands of individual family lawsuits are still pending. School districts across the country are also suing.

In this episode, attorney and consumer safety advocate Whitney Di Bona sits down with Christian Simmons, reporter for Drugwatch and author of the major investigation ”Big Tech on Trial: Inside the Social Media Addiction Lawsuits,” to break down exactly what happened, what it means, and what comes next.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why lawsuits treat social media apps as defective products and how that legal strategy changes everything

• How the social media litigation is broken into three buckets: Individual family lawsuits, school district cases and state attorney general lawsuits — and where each stands right now

• The terms of Meta's landmark settlement with dozens of states: $16-18 billion and sweeping platform changes, including a two-hour daily time limit for teens, notifications disabled during school hours and overnight, a ban on cosmetic surgery filters and the option to turn off the algorithmic feed entirely

• The real questions about whether these changes will work in practice, and the parental responsibility debate that continues to divide public opinion

• The first bellwether social media addiction case ever decided by a jury — and why the $6 million verdict against Meta and YouTube matters far beyond the dollar amount

• How the algorithm creates dangerous rabbit holes, including for kids going through breakups, depression and eating disorders

• Why quitting social media isn't a realistic solution for many people and how adults are already using bricks, second phones and app blockers to manage their own use

• What Australia, the UK and Canada are doing differently and whether the US is falling behind on protecting kids

• What a global settlement for the thousands of pending individual cases might look like and the signs that suggest it could be coming

• The results of Consumer Notice’s social media survey and what it means for the nation’s mental health

If your child has been harmed by social media, you are not alone. To learn more about your legal options, visit: https://www.drugwatch.com/social-media-addiction/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=social-media-addiction

Resources & Links:

• Read the full Drugwatch investigation, Big Tech on Trial: Inside the Social Media Addiction Lawsuits: https://www.drugwatch.com/featured/social-media-addiction-lawsuits/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=social-media-addiction 

• See the Consumer Notice social media addiction survey details: https://www.consumernotice.org/personal-injury/social-media-harm/addiction-survey/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=social-media-addiction 

• Stay up to date on all social media litigation and news: drugwatch.com 

Note: Always consult health and legal professionals for personalized advice. The information provided reflects current research and advocacy efforts. Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal or medical advice. The opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect those of Drugwatch.