Google’s YouTube is a defendant in thousands of social media addiction lawsuits alleging that autoplay, the recommendation algorithm and the infinite feed of YouTube Shorts were designed to keep children watching. YouTube went to verdict in the first trial and lost. Since the verdict, YouTube has settled the other bellwether cases listed below except P.M.Y., who dismissed her claims against it without a settlement.
Last updated October 20, 2026.
At a Glance
- Defendants: YouTube, LLC, Google LLC and parent company Alphabet.
- Courts: federal MDL No. 3047 (N.D. Cal.) and California JCCP No. 5255 (Los Angeles Superior Court).
- Individual verdicts: liable in K.G.M. (March 2026), with $1.8 million of the $6 million award assigned to YouTube. On appeal.
- Since the verdict: settled or dismissed from every case set for trial.
- Government cases: 2019 federal children’s privacy settlement; suits by Arkansas and Nevada.
What the Lawsuits Allege Against YouTube
Plaintiffs allege that YouTube’s autoplay, algorithmic recommendations, notifications and the infinite scroll of YouTube Shorts were built to hook young users. At the first trial, the plaintiff’s lawyer cited internal Google documents comparing the products to a casino, and the jury heard that the plaintiff began using YouTube at age 6. A later plaintiff’s lawyers described his case as being about autoplay and infinite scroll. The injuries alleged include addiction, depression, anxiety, self-harm and body dysmorphia.
YouTube’s defense is that it is a video streaming service, not social media, and that the plaintiffs’ use of it was limited. At trial, its lawyers told the jury the plaintiff averaged 29 minutes a day on YouTube.
YouTube’s Trial and Settlement Record
| Case | Trial setting | Result for YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| K.G.M. | Los Angeles, Jan. to Mar. 2026 | Jury verdict: liable, 30% at fault, $1.8M |
| Breathitt County Schools | Federal MDL, June 2026 | Settled, about $2M (reported) |
| R.K.C. | Los Angeles, July 2026 | Settled June 23, 2026 |
| P.M.Y. | Los Angeles, Oct. 2026 | Plaintiff dismissed YouTube |
| S.J. and K.D.B. | Los Angeles, Oct. 28, 2026 | Settled Sept. 25, 2026 |
On March 25, 2026, the K.G.M. jury found YouTube and Meta negligent and liable for failing to warn. YouTube was assigned 30 percent of the fault for $3 million in compensatory damages and $900,000 in punitive damages, for a total of $1.8 million. Judge Kuhl denied the motions for a new trial on June 9, 2026, and Google has appealed.
After the verdict, YouTube settled with the Breathitt County school district in May 2026, before the first federal school district bellwether scheduled for June, paying a little over $2 million according to reports of the settlement records. It settled with R.K.C. on June 23, 2026, about a month before his trial, saying the matter had been amicably resolved. On September 25, 2026, it settled with S.J. and K.D.B., the plaintiffs in the October 28 trial, leaving Meta and Snap as the remaining defendants. Terms of the individual settlements are confidential.
Government Cases Involving YouTube
In 2019, Google and YouTube agreed to pay $170 million to the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Attorney General to settle allegations that YouTube collected data from children watching child-directed channels without parental consent. Arkansas sued Google and YouTube in September 2024, and Nevada sued in June 2025, both alleging harm to young users’ mental health. In September 2026, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said YouTube would not agree to the teen limits in Meta’s multistate settlement, according to CNN.
YouTube’s Response
Google denies the allegations. Google has said it will appeal the verdict.
For where the full litigation stands, including who may have a claim, compensation and filing deadlines, see the Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Update.
Doyle APC handles YouTube addiction lawsuits nationwide together with experienced co-counsel.
Other companies: Meta and Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat.
Common Questions
Is there a YouTube class action lawsuit for addiction?
No. The YouTube addiction cases are a mass tort. Each person files an individual claim, and the claims are coordinated in federal MDL No. 3047 and California JCCP No. 5255.
Was YouTube found liable for social media addiction?
Yes. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found YouTube and Meta liable to a young woman identified as K.G.M. YouTube’s share of the $6 million award was $1.8 million. Google has appealed.
Has YouTube settled social media addiction lawsuits?
Yes. Since the first verdict, YouTube has settled the R.K.C., S.J. and K.D.B. cases in Los Angeles and the Breathitt County school district case in federal court. Terms of the individual settlements are confidential.
Is YouTube Shorts part of the lawsuit?
Yes. Plaintiffs allege that the infinite scroll of YouTube Shorts, along with autoplay and the recommendation algorithm, was designed to keep young users watching.
Does YouTube argue it is not social media?
Yes. YouTube’s defense at trial was that it is a video streaming platform rather than social media, and that the plaintiff’s use of it was limited.
See If You Qualify for Social Media Addiction Compensation
Doyle APC handles social media addiction claims nationwide together with experienced co-counsel, for young people and families harmed by Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube. Many people with claims are now adults who can file on their own. There are no fees or costs unless there is a recovery.
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