More than 100 new plaintiffs filed lawsuits in the social media mental health MDL throughout October. The total as of November 3 is 2,172.
The Legal Team
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- Andrew P. Arnold
- Esther E. Berezofsky
- Ebony Williams Bobbitt
- Riley Breakell
- Abigail Burman
- Jessica L. Carroll
- Grace P. Chandler
- Jessica C. Colombo
- Sara O. Couch
- Nelson L. Drake
- Jade A. Haileselassie
- Mathew P. Jasinski
- Marlon E. Kimpson
- Annie E. Kouba
- Tope O. Leyimu
- Paul T. Lyons
- P. Graham Maiden
- Kate E. Menard
- Donald A. Migliori
- Lance Oliver
- Jonathan D. Orent
- Joseph F. Rice
- Tammy Cauley Rivers
- Cindi A. Solomon
Case Overview
YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet, which also owns Google, is facing social media lawsuits claiming the platform harmed users’ mental health. The lawsuits claim YouTube’s platform is deliberately designed to promote problematic use in users and content creators. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits also claim that YouTube and other social media platforms target minors, with little regard for their emotional well-being. If you as a minor or your child suffered harm following YouTube exposure and addiction, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Important updates about YouTube lawsuits
- November 2025: There were 2,172 pending actions in the social media media multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL is a type of mass lawsuit that combines cases where plaintiffs allege similar harms.
- June 2025: The MDL judge selected the first six school district bellwether trials for the social media MDL. Three defense case picks and three plaintiff school district case picks were chosen. Motley Rice attorneys represent one of the chosen plaintiffs.
- March 2025: District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in favor of allowing allegations such as wrongful death and negligence to proceed. Gonzalez Rogers is the federal judge who oversees the social media multidistrict litigation.
Key takeaways about YouTube teen mental health lawsuits
- Americans are suing social media companies for deliberately making their platforms addictive at the risk of damaging users’ mental health.
- The plaintiffs include individuals as minors and their guardians, along with public school boards and state attorneys general.
- If you believe a minor in your care was harmed by YouTube’s design you may be able to file a lawsuit against YouTube.
Why are individuals filing teen mental health lawsuits against YouTube?
People are filing YouTube lawsuits because they believe the platform’s design:
- Prompts users to mindlessly scroll, displacing more fruitful and productive activities
- Encourages social comparison
- Gives users of any age access to content, even if it’s harmful or inappropriate
Plaintiffs’ attorneys also allege that parent company Alphabet Inc. doesn’t provide adequate parental warning of potential dangers.
Who are the named defendants in the YouTube lawsuits?
As of November 3, 2025, 2,172 plaintiffs had filed mental health lawsuits against social media companies, including YouTube. The U.S. court system has grouped these claims into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) docket known as In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3047.
The defendants in the litigation case (MDL No. 3047) include:
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California is overseeing the MDL.
What is an MDL?
Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a federal court action that consolidates cases with similar facts to help the courts operate more smoothly. An MDL also combines cases from different jurisdictions, allowing the court to streamline pretrial processes.
Unlike class action lawsuits, MDLs allow cases to be tried individually. Plaintiffs have their own lawyers in addition to lead counsel, and they don’t always share settlements equally.
Eligibility
Who can file a social media harm lawsuit? Parents or guardians can file a lawsuit against social media companies on behalf of their minor children who suffered mental health harms such as suicidal ideation, eating disorders and depression requiring hospitalization. Young adults can also file a lawsuit if they were minors when their trauma was diagnosed or treated.
Harms alleged by individuals suing YouTube
Plaintiffs claim YouTube caused a myriad of mental and physical harms, including:
- Anxiety: Social media users may experience anxiety driven by self-comparison and fear of missing out (FoMO).
- Cyberbullying: YouTube comment sections can be a place where cyberbullying of content creators and their fans as well as youth users is common.
- Depression: Social platforms like YouTube often serve up idealized images of body type or lifestyle. Children using YouTube may experience depression, anxiety and body dissatisfaction related to social comparisons on the platform.
- Self-harm and suicide: In some cases, YouTube has presented suicidal ideation concepts. This can result in suicide or other forms of self-harm.
- Sleeping disorders: Social media platforms are designed to make people scroll endlessly, possibly resulting in fewer hours of sleep. The blue light from screens and push notifications may also affect sleep quality.
Get help for mental health harms
If you’re facing a mental health crisis or your child is facing one, seek help immediately. These national resources are ready to assist you at any time:
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Call 1-800-931-2237 or go to NationalEatingDisorders.org for help.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 or go to 988lifeline.org for confidential support from a trained expert.
How does YouTube affect children?
YouTube highlights content that targets children, such as toy reviews, makeup tutorials and comedy videos. Alphabet once claimed that YouTube “is today’s Saturday morning cartoons” and the favorite site for children ages 2 to 12.
Keeping users on the site is vital to YouTube’s global advertising revenue, which topped $36.15 billion in 2024. Alphabet executives and website designers are accused of deliberately using their knowledge of human behavior and psychology to keep users on the platform. They are also believed to have knowingly targeted “the addiction capabilities of every human,” including minors.
Here are a few potential dangers that children may face while on the YouTube platform.
Mindless scrolling
YouTube makes it easy for children to enter what experts call a “flow state” — a nearly trance-like condition where staying on the platform requires less physical effort than moving to a different activity. Hours can pass if children are allowed to keep scrolling, with no intervention. This can also impact a user’s sleep habits.
Intermittent variable rewards
Intermittent variable rewards (IVRs) on social media platforms refer to engagement metrics, such as likes, comments and subscriptions. For creators, this type of engagement can lead to more dopamine in the brain, resulting in a rush of pleasure and validation for their work.
Additionally, as creators acquire more followers, they may earn more money for their work and thus become further incentivized to engage with the platform.
Researchers have found that the unpredictability of IVRs may magnify a content creator’s resulting pleasure. Children are particularly vulnerable to IVRs.
Likes and positive comments may trigger a release in dopamine for non-creators, as well.
Parasocial relationships
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship in which a content consumer may develop an attachment to a creator or influencer. Some social media creators leverage and foster parasocial relationships with their fan base, creating the appearance of an authentic personal relationship.
These influencers will cultivate these relationships and encourage their followers to consume, share and interact with their content. In doing so, YouTube creators can improve their engagement statistics and increase their revenue on the platform.
Unfortunately, such parasocial relationships can be detrimental to young users on the platform. Google’s own research shows that 40% of teens believe their favorite YouTube celebrities understand them better than their in-person friends do.
Radicalization
Some researchers are concerned that YouTube exposes minors to extreme viewpoints. A 2024 Irish study created 10 fake profiles for social media platforms, including YouTube. Researchers set up fake accounts on both YouTube and TikTok while acting as 16- and 18-year-old males. Additionally, they created a blank account to use as a control.
Using half of the profiles, the researchers searched for a “gender-normative” video game, sports and fitness content on the platforms. Using the remaining profiles, the researchers looked up misogynistic content.
Within 26 minutes of starting the experiment, the YouTube algorithm recommended misogynistic content for all the accounts, no matter the search pattern.
Data collection
Alphabet collects a massive amount of information about YouTube users. By using the platform, children provide the company with data such as:
- Browser type and settings
- Device type
- Location
- Mobile device information
- Usage habits
Alphabet uses this data to micro-target users for advertisers. The YouTube parent company also collects information when users aren’t on the YouTube platform.
There is a separate class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, related to data collection. It alleges YouTube violated federal law by collecting information about the viewing habits of minors. Magistrate Judge Susan Van Keulen ruled plaintiffs’ counsel proved YouTube engaged in highly offensive behavior. This allows the plaintiffs to advance their privacy claims.
Read more about why parents are concerned about their children using social media.
YouTube features that may impact young children’s and teens’ mental health
YouTube is built to keep users engaged, no matter the impact on their mental health. Researchers believe children are less equipped to combat the techniques social media platforms use to keep users scrolling.
Let’s discuss specific features that may impact children’s mental health by keeping them engaged with YouTube videos.
Access
Any person with access to the Internet can view YouTube content, which doesn’t require having an account. The platform does not ask users to verify their age before they can view certain types of content.
YouTube is also preloaded on many smart televisions and streaming devices.
These factors make it easy for children to access YouTube and its harmful features.
Shorts
YouTube Shorts are short videos that are easy to watch on mobile devices.
The platform uses its algorithms to organize suggestions that encourage increased watch time. Essentially, the algorithm aims to serve users an endless stream of interesting content to promote continued and uninterrupted engagement.
This feature prompts children to scroll for hours, which can affect their sleeping habits, academic performance and interpersonal relationships.
Likes and comments
Likes and comments can impact young YouTube creators as well as their audience. Receiving a like or comment triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, keeping users engaged.
Along with dopamine is a financial incentive. The likes and comments that creators receive are vital to their efforts to monetize their content. Once a creator reaches a certain status, the platform rewards them with access to the YouTube Partner Program. Through this program, users can also show support for creators. This invites social comparison among content creators and users alike.
Recommended and autoplay
The Recommended and Autoplay features provide YouTube with an effective tandem attack for keeping users engaged.
The Recommended panel appears on the site’s home page as well as in the Up Next panel after a user views a video.
Meanwhile, Autoplay provides a constant stream of video without requiring users to take any action. Consequently, it’s easy for children to slip into the flow state of endless scrolling.
What's the status of individual lawsuits against YouTube?
No teen mental health lawsuits in the YouTube MDL have gone to trial or been settled, although as of June 2025, six school district bellwether cases and five individual personal injury cases have been selected. Google, YouTube’s parent company, is a named defendant in all six of the school district bellwether cases and one of the personal injury cases.
YouTube teen mental health lawsuit timeline
11.03.25
More cases filed in MDL
10.01.25
MDL case count grew leading into October
There are now 2,053 plaintiffs in the Adolescent Social Media Addiction MDL.
09.02.25
MDL cases grew leading into September
The Adolescent Social Media Addiction MDL now has 1,961 pending actions.
08.01.25
MDL continued growing, per August report
There were 1,922 pending actions in the social media MDL.
07.14.25
Minnesota enacted social media mental health warning law
The Minnesota state legislature passed a bill, signed by the state’s governor, that will require social media platforms to include a pop-up warning users that social media can be a mental health hazard. Proponents say the warning will be similar to labels for tobacco and alcohol products. The warning labels are set to take effect July 1, 2026. This is the first law of its type enacted in the U.S.
07.02.25
July report showed MDL growth
There were 1,867 pending actions in the social media MDL.
06.18.25
JAMA study linked phone, social media and video game addiction to suicidal behaviors
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study that examined whether smartphone, social media and video game addiction can be linked to suicidal behaviors. The study looked at nearly 4,300 adolescents over four years. Researchers concluded that the most addicted or increasingly addicted kids in the group were associated with a suicidal risk two to three times higher than that of far less addicted youths.
06.17.25
Nevada Attorney General filed YouTube lawsuit
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford’s office filed a lawsuit against YouTube and its parent companies alleging the platform is causing young people to suffer addictive and mental health harms. Ford said, “I will take every step to protect the children in our great state, and that includes holding accountable those who exploit and harm our youth.”
06.13.25
Vermont governor signed kids digital protection bill
Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed S.69, a bill specifying protection for minors. In addition to privacy measures, the bill requires businesses to avoid using any personal information that results in discrimination, “reasonably foreseeable” emotional distress or “reasonably foreseeable” compulsive use. The law also requires platforms (apps and websites) to set all default privacy settings to the highest level of privacy, further ensuring the protection of minors.
06.13.25
Social media MDL Judge selected first bellwether trials
The social media MDL judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers selected the first six bellwether trials for the MDL. Three defense cases and three plaintiff school district cases were chosen for bellwether trials. Five personal injury cases were also selected as bellwethers to proceed to trial. Motley Rice attorneys represent some of the chosen plaintiffs.
04.22.25
Status conference reviewed discovery progress
The parties discussed ongoing disputes over witness depositions, document production and data sharing during the MDL’s status conference on April 22, 2025. While the parties endeavored to resolve several issues by agreement, many discovery issues remain unresolved. The next status conference took place on June 13, 2025.
04.02.25
MDL numbers increased going into April
Nearly 300 plaintiffs have joined the social media MDL since the beginning of March, bringing total pending actions to 1,745.
03.31.25
Texas school districts continued to join MDL
The Corpus Christi Independent School District in Texas voted to join the social media MDL. The district’s attorney claims that 46 school districts statewide have joined the MDL. The district bans smartwatches and cellphones during the school day for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. High school students are limited to using cellphones only during lunch and between classes.
03.30.25
Author of Meta memoir can testify in MDL
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H. Kang ruled that the author of a memoir critical of Meta platforms can testify in the MDL. Sarah Wynn-Williams worked at Meta from 2011 to 2017, including time as the company’s director of public policy. Meta attempted to block her from testifying, arguing that her testimony wasn’t relevant to personal injury and that plaintiffs waited too long to depose her.
03.12.25
MDL judge rules against interlocutory appeal
Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled against the defendants’ request for an interlocutory appeal of the decision that school district plaintiffs can proceed in their claims that defendants’ platforms create a public nuisance. This ruling aims to maintain coordination among plaintiffs from different states and the Judge said the MDL would “quickly splinter and fragment” if that request was granted.
03.05.25
New lawsuits could challenge Section 230 defense
Snapchat lawsuits filed by more than 60 families claim the app’s features expose children to drug dealers. While the suit names Snapchat the defendant, it could impact other social networks’ defenses built on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Section 230 protects social media companies from liability for content their users create.
03.04.25
Non-priority claims can proceed
Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled that non-priority claims can go forward. Non-priority claims include general negligence, wrongful death, survival and loss of consortium.
03.03.25
March MDL numbers continued to grow
The social media harm MDL grew to 1,464 pending actions as of March 2025.
02.13.25
Texas’ biggest school district agreed to join social media MDL
The Houston Independent School District board voted unanimously to join the mental health MDL. The lawsuit alleges that social media platforms have reduced students’ attention spans and harmed their mental health. The district seeks recovery for the educational impact from YouTube, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), TikTok and Snapchat.
02.06.25
San Diego County sued Google and other social media companies
San Diego County filed a lawsuit against social media companies to pressure these companies into removing dangerous features and paying for more mental health resources. The lawsuit claims that YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram cared more about profiting than protecting the health of those who spend time on their platforms.
02.04.25
MDL Reaches more than 1,000 cases filed
More cases continue to be added to the Adolescent Social Media Addiction MDL. There are now 1,246 pending actions, including those against Google's Youtube.
01.27.25
Milwaukee Public Schools filed social media lawsuit
Wisconsin’s largest school district filed a lawsuit against YouTube, Snapchat, Meta Platforms and TikTok. The Milwaukee Public Schools lawsuit alleges that the social media companies contribute to a youth mental health crisis that impacts students.
01.27.25
Del Norte County joined lawsuit against social media companies
Del Norte County joined other California counties in suing social media companies. The suit alleges that YouTube, TikTok, Meta Platforms and Snapchat knowingly target children.
01.12.25
YouTube must face suit over children’s privacy
Federal Magistrate Judge Susan Van Keulen agreed with plaintiffs that Google, which owns YouTube, collected and held protected user data without permission. The data included information about children’s viewing habits, which may be a violation of federal law. This is a class-action lawsuit separate from the federal MDL.
01.08.25
Apache tribe in Arizona sues social media companies
The White Mountain Apache Tribe filed a federal lawsuit against several social media companies in the Northern District of California, including YouTube’s parent company Google. The tribe claims social media companies are contributing to mental health crises among its youth. The lawsuit’s allegations also fall under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.
01.03.25
More than a 100 cases added to the social media MDL
Pending actions in the social media harm MDL grew to 974 as of January 2.
12.01.24
More cases filed in the social media harm MDL
The number of plaintiffs in MDL-3047 increased to 815.
11.08.24
Meta CEO not personally liable, judge rules
Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is not personally liable in lawsuits alleging that social media companies deliberately addicted children to social media. The judge found plaintiffs’ allegations weren’t specific enough to establish his personal liability.
10.24.24
School district lawsuits could proceed in the social media harm MDL
U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in October 2024 that lawsuits filed by school districts could proceed as part of MDL 3047 against Google and other companies involved in social media. YouTube is owned by Google, which is a subsidiary of Alphabet – a publicly traded company established in 2015.
Schools districts have filed suits alleging that the design of social media apps have caused mental health harm to students in the schools’ communities. These mental health issues have led to disruptions throughout schools and resulted in increased costs as districts try to help their students navigate the negative influence of social media.
09.01.24
Number of actions in social media MDL grew again
The number of plaintiffs in MDL-3047 grew to 584. The MDL included 393 plaintiffs as of January 2024.
08.01.24
Number of actions in social media MDL grew
On August 1, the number of plaintiffs in MDL-3047 was 557.
07.30.24
U.S. Senate passed two protection acts
The U.S. Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act. If this legislation passes in the U.S. House of Representatives, social media platforms will have to take reasonable measures to improve parental control over their children’s social media use and reduce social media-related harm to teens and children.
06.08.24
New York passed two safety bills
Legislators in New York passed two major bills into law to address how social media companies can exploit children. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act requires thorough verification of the user’s age, as well as parental consent in certain cases. The legislation also contains other protections for minors who use social media platforms.
The New York Child Data Protection Act regulates social media sites’ ability to collect, sell and share the data of minors.
01.04.24
Pretrial schedule set
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers set a pretrial schedule to select the first bellwether trials for MDL-3047.
02.01.23
Master complaint filed
Attorneys representing plaintiffs in MDL-3047 filed a master complaint.
11.2022
Leadership team approved
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers approved a leadership team for MDL 3047. Motley Rice attorney Previn Warren was named the team’s co-lead counsel.
10.2022
Courts consolidated lawsuits
The U.S. courts consolidated lawsuits against TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and other social media platforms into an MDL docket.
03.2022
Attorneys general wrote to social media companies
Attorneys general from 44 states and territories wrote to social media companies’ legal counsel to open a discussion about the lack of parental controls on popular platforms.
Frequently asked questions about suing YouTube
Is there a YouTube class action lawsuit over mental health?
No, there isn’t a class action lawsuit against YouTube for mental health harm. However, many mental health-related social media lawsuits have been consolidated as multidistrict litigation (MDL). The plaintiffs in MDL 3047 allege their mental health suffered due to their usage of social media platforms.
MDLs are similar to class action lawsuits because they group similar cases together. However, class action suits differ from MDLs in how the courts handle trials and settlements.
There is also a YouTube class action lawsuit related to the platform illegally collecting and storing information about children’s viewing habits. Unlike the social media addiction and mental health MDL, this class action addresses data privacy issues, which are not related to mental health. Motley Rice is not representing individuals in the data privacy class action.
Who is eligible for a YouTube lawsuit?
You might be eligible to file a teen mental health lawsuit against YouTube if:
- You’re an adult (18 or older) who was harmed as a minor (17 or younger): Adults can file lawsuits on their own behalf.
OR - You’re the parent or legal guardian of someone who was harmed by using YouTube: Harms may include mental health problems, physical injuries, drug use or self-harm such as cutting, attempted suicide and death by suicide.
AND - Your circumstances fall within the applicable statute of limitations: These statutes vary by state.
A social media lawyer at Motley Rice can provide a case evaluation and explain your legal options.
Our experience helping families stand against technology companies
For decades, families and individuals have turned to Motley Rice for help in standing up to big tech companies. We’ve represented people who have reason to think they have been harmed by social media companies like Alphabet.
If you believe a social media company caused a mental health crisis for you or your child, we might be able to help you file a lawsuit.
Important updates about YouTube lawsuits
Key takeaways
Why are people filing teen mental health lawsuits against YouTube?
Harms alleged by individuals suing YouTube
How does YouTube affect children?
YouTube features that may impact young children’s and teens’ mental health
What's the status of the lawsuits against YouTube?
YouTube teen mental health lawsuit timeline
Frequently asked questions about suing YouTube
Our experience helping families stand against technology companies
About the Author
Jade A. Haileselassie
Associate
Jade Haileselassie’s diverse practice includes representing global terror victims, individuals and school districts alleging harm by social media platforms, consumers harmed by vehicle defects and fraud, and public entities in litigation aimed at enhancing public health and safety.
- Sources
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- Bloomberg Law. Tech Giants Denied Prompt Appeal in Schools' Addiction Suit.
- CBS 8. County files lawsuit against 5 major social media platforms to improve youth mental health crisis.
- Corpus Christi Caller Times. Social media addiction: CCISD wants to join lawsuit against Instagram, TikTok, others.
- Courthouse News. Google can’t shake class claims it invaded minors’ privacy through ads.
- Houston Landing. Houston ISD to join lawsuit against social media companies over student mental health.
- Houston Public Media. Houston ISD joining nationwide group of school districts in suing social media companies.
- Las Vegas Review-Journal. Nevada attorney general files lawsuit against YouTube.
- Law 360. 'Careless People' Author Can Testify In Meta Addiction MDL.
- Law360. Social Media Addiction MDL Judge Picks Bellwether Trial Pool.
- Los Angeles Times. Parents are blaming Snapchat for their teens’ fentanyl deaths. Will an L.A. lawsuit shape the future of social media?
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee Public Schools to sue social media companies over youth mental health crisis.
- MPR News. Minnesota enacts first-in-nation law requiring mental health warnings on social media.
- News4. Nevada attorney general sues YouTube over kids addicted to platform.
- NPR. Screen addiction and suicidal behaviors are linked for teens, a study shows.
- PCMag. School Districts Notch a Win in Tech Addiction Case Against Top Platforms.
- Politico. Bill banning social media for youngsters advances.
- The Recorder. With Final Dismissal Order, Social Media Addiction Claims Head Toward Trial.
- Redwood Voice. Del Norte Joins Public Nuisance Lawsuit Against Social Media Giants.
- Reuters. Meta's Zuckerberg not liable in lawsuits over social media harm to children.
- Transparency Coalition. Vermont Gov. Scott signs ‘Kids Code’ digital design bill into law.
- State of California Department of Justice. Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration over Unlawful Discontinuation of School Mental Health Grant Funding.
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. Case No. 19-cv-07016-SVK.
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. Joint Status Report on Discovery for April 22, 2025 Discovery Management Conference, In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation.
- U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Pending MDLs.
- Variety. YouTube Now Worth as Much as $550 Billion, Analysts Say: ‘New King of All Media'.
- Xiao Y, Meng Y, Brown TT, Keyes KM, Mann JJ. Addictive Screen Use Trajectories and Suicidal Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health in US Youths. JAMA. 2025;334(3):219–228. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.782
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