Google and its YouTube subsidiary face lawsuits claiming YouTube was designed to keep children watching video after video. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found YouTube negligent alongside Meta, and YouTube has since settled other cases before trial.
If YouTube use led to depression, an eating disorder, self-harm or a suicide attempt, your family may qualify for compensation.
The YouTube Lawsuits at a Glance
- Defendants: Google and YouTube, owned by Alphabet
- Courts: MDL No. 3047 in the Northern District of California and the coordinated Social Media Cases in Los Angeles (JCCP No. 5255)
- First verdict: March 25, 2026, with YouTube assigned 30 percent of the fault, about $1.8 million
- Settlements: R.K.C., S.J. and K.D.B., and $2.01 million in the first school district case
What the Lawsuits Allege
- Autoplay, which starts the next video automatically.
- Recommendations that plaintiffs say keep young viewers watching.
- Shorts, an endless feed of short videos.
- Notifications designed to bring users back.
- Weak age checks and parental controls, including for children who started on YouTube Kids.
The First Verdict
The plaintiff in K.G.M. v. Meta started watching YouTube at age 6. On March 25, 2026, the Los Angeles jury found YouTube negligent and found it failed to warn, assigning it 30 percent of the fault. YouTube’s share was about $1.8 million, including $900,000 in punitive damages. Judge Kuhl denied YouTube’s post-trial motions in June 2026, and YouTube appealed in July.
YouTube argued at trial that it is a video platform, not social media. The jury still found it liable.
Settlements
- May 2026: YouTube paid $2.01 million in the Breathitt County School District case, according to records reported by Reuters.
- June 2026: YouTube settled R.K.C. before trial.
- August 2026: P.M.Y. dropped her claims against Google, Meta and Snap.
- September 25, 2026: YouTube settled the cases of S.J. and K.D.B., leaving Meta and Snap for the October trial.
Government Cases
Arkansas sued YouTube and Google in September 2024, and Nevada sued in June 2025, claiming YouTube’s design harms young people. In Arkansas, a judge refused to dismiss the case, and Google has appealed. In 2019, Google and YouTube paid $170 million to settle federal and New York claims that YouTube collected children’s data without parental consent. Government settlements do not compensate families.
Who May Have a Claim Against YouTube
A young person may have a claim if they became addicted to the app before age 18, are now 25 or younger, used it heavily (typically three or more hours a day), and were diagnosed and treated for depression, severe anxiety, an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt. Families who lost a child to suicide at age 21 or younger may have a wrongful death claim. Compensation in these claims may cover medical and counseling expenses, past and future, along with pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you or your child is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Common Questions
Is YouTube really part of the social media addiction lawsuits?
Yes. YouTube and Google are defendants in both the federal MDL and the California proceeding, and a jury found YouTube negligent in March 2026.
My child mostly watched YouTube, not Instagram or TikTok. Could we have a claim?
Possibly. Claims are based on heavy use that began before 18 and a diagnosed injury, whichever apps were involved.
Can I still file a claim against YouTube?
Yes. YouTube has settled several cases before trial, but no global settlement for families has been announced.
What does it cost to file?
Nothing up front. There are no fees or costs unless there is a recovery.