American Association for Justice Inc.
03/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/25/2026 12:22
AAJ Statement on Verdict in First California Social Media Addiction Bellwether Case
AAJ Statement on Verdict in First California Social Media Addiction Bellwether Case
March 25,2026
WASHINGTON, DC-American Association for Justice (AAJ) CEO Linda Lipsen issued the following statement upon the jury's verdict in the first bellwether case of the Social Media Addiction JCCP:
"When parents, survivors, state attorneys general, and school districts file cases against Big Tech, they are standing up to a trillion-dollar industry, shining light on the dangerous, predatory design decisions of the world's most powerful corporations. This trial successfully pulled back the curtain on Big Tech, uncovering thousands of internal tech company documents which reveal that, over and over again, these companies chose to prioritize profits over children's health and lives. Today's verdict reaffirms the power of lawsuits to drive transparency and bring the truth to light.
"While lawsuits can provide a path to legal responsibility, they are the last resort for families who are left devastated and without options to demand transparency and accountability. Congress must immediately reform Section 230 to empower all parents and families and pass the Senate's Kids Online Safety Act to deliver change when it comes to children's safety online."
Background
More than 10,000 individual cases and nearly 800 school district claims are currently pending nationwide, alleging that platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube were deliberately engineered to addict children and teenagers.
These include:
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More than 2,400 cases pending in the multi-district litigation (MDL), which is expected to begin in June (as of March 2026). Eleven cases were chosen as bellwethers, six of which are brought by school districts in red and blue states alike (KY, MD, GA, NJ, AZ, and SC).
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Over 800 cases are pending in the judicial council coordination proceedings (JCCP) in California, with three cases chosen as bellwethers.
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Upcoming:
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April 13, 2026 - R.K.C. Bellwether trial begins
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June 8, 2026 - Moore Bellwether will go before a jury
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More than 41 U.S. state attorneys general have filed or joined social media addiction lawsuits.
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The American Association for Justice works to safeguard rights, promote fairness, and strengthen access to civil justice-even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.
AAJ's vision is justice for all.
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American Association for Justice Inc. published this content on March 25, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 25, 2026 at 18:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]