Four High‑Profile Social Media Trials to Watch

Sat Jun 13 2026 13:01:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

US courts gear up to decide on child safety, privacy and liability in four landmark cases involving Meta, TikTok, Roblox and Discord.

The legal landscape for social media is undergoing a seismic shift as four major lawsuits move toward trial. In California, a multi‑district litigation (MDL) pits platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok against over 1,000 school districts, alleging addictive design harms to children. The "People of the State of California" case throws down Meta and Instagram for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, demanding tighter age‑gate controls and data removal. A state‑court suit by a 13‑year‑old boy accuses Roblox and Discord of false safety claims, potentially reshaping chat and interaction rules. Finally, billionaire Andrew Forrest contests Meta’s use of Section 230 in a case about deceptive ads, which could unsettle the precedent of platform immunity. These trials could re‑define platform responsibilities and user protections for years to come.

Four High‑Profile Social Media Trials to Watch

When social media first surged onto the internet more than two decades ago, many hailed it as a game‑changing platform that would bridge divides and unlock new information flows. Today, however, the same giants—Meta, Google, Snapchat, TikTok, Roblox and Discord—are facing an avalanche of lawsuits that could fundamentally alter how these services operate.

1. Social Media Adolescent Addiction MDL

A sprawling multidistrict litigation in California involves more than 1,000 school districts across the United States. The schools allege that Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok are intentionally designed to be addictive, jeopardising children’s mental and emotional well‑being. Jurors will decide whether these platforms are “public nuisances” that should face liability for the harm inflicted on young users. The case is poised to be heard in early 2025, and a verdict could mandate new age‑gating protocols and restrict how strangers interact with under‑age users.

2. People of the State of California v. Meta

A coalition of 29 states filed a lawsuit in 2023 against Meta and Instagram, accusing the companies of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The suit demands that Meta prevent children under 13 from using its apps, remove collected data, and overhaul its privacy practices. The court has already ordered Meta to turn in millions of documents, and the trial is slated for August. The outcome could force Meta to redesign its data‑collection and advertising systems—tools that power everything from ad targeting to AI training.

3. John Doe, a minor v. Roblox and Discord

A 13‑year‑old boy in San Mateo, California, sued Roblox and Discord alleging that platform employees groomed him and other minors. He claims that both companies misrepresented how safe the platforms were for youngsters. The suit steers into the legal limbo of arbitration versus a public trial; should the courts refuse arbitration, the case could proceed to trial later this year and potentially change how chat features are regulated for minors.

4. Forrest v. Meta

Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest is suing Meta in California over allegedly deceptive ads that used his likeness to promote risky investments. The core of the dispute is whether Meta can invoke Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to shield itself. A verdict against Meta would undermine the decade‑old immunity that protects online platforms from a wide range of liability.

Across these lawsuits, a consistent theme emerges: the legal system is demanding that social media platforms become accountable for how they design, market and regulate their services—especially for children. The outcomes will likely ripple through corporate policies, state regulations and even federal lawmakers, setting a new bar for online trust and safety.