California social media addiction lawsuit
Families in California are holding Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube responsible for harm to their children, one case at a time. Here is who may qualify, how California cases are filed, and the deadline that applies.
Quick answer
California families can bring individual claims, not a class action, against Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google (YouTube) when a child was harmed after heavy use before 18. In California, an injury claim generally must be filed within 2 years; time while the injured person is under 18 does not count, so a child generally has until 2 years after turning 18 (age 20). This pause does not apply to claims against government agencies, which have short claim-filing deadlines. A free review checks your family’s deadline.
Who may qualify in California
- The child lives or lived in California and used Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat or YouTube regularly before 18
- The child developed depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, self-harm, sleep problems or another serious harm
- No diagnosis? 20 or more hours a week on one platform before 18 may support an exposure claim
- Families of a young person who died by suicide after heavy social media use
- An adult contacted the child through a platform and pressured, threatened or exploited them
California filing deadlines
| Personal injury / product liability | 2 years | Personal injury claims, including product injuries, must be filed within 2 years. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injured as a minor | — | Time while the injured person is under 18 does not count, so a child generally has until 2 years after turning 18 (age 20). This pause does not apply to claims against government agencies, which have short claim-filing deadlines. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 352 |
| Wrongful death | 2 years | A wrongful death claim must generally be filed within 2 years of the death. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 |
Official leginfo.legislature.ca.gov pages failed to load; text confirmed via Justia 2025 code and california.public.law. No product-liability statute of repose. California courts apply a discovery rule (court-made, not stated in § 335.1). Wrongful death runs from the date of death (case law).
These are the general rules in the statutes. Courts apply exceptions, and which rule applies depends on the facts, so a lawyer should confirm your family’s deadline. This is general information, not legal advice.
How California cases are filed
This is not a class action. A California family’s claim is filed in the child’s name. Federal cases from every state are grouped in MDL No. 3047 in Northern California so evidence and pre-trial rulings are shared; about 3,800 were pending in October 2026. Some cases are filed in state court instead. The lawyers decide with your family where your case belongs.
California state-court social media addiction cases are grouped together in Los Angeles Superior Court as 'Social Media Cases,' JCCP 5255, before Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl.
What California has done
On October 24, 2023, this state's attorney general joined the 33-state lawsuit against Meta (Instagram and Facebook) in federal court in Northern California, saying Meta designed its apps to hook young users and misled the public about the risks.
Lawsuits and laws by the state are separate from a family’s own claim. They do not file or replace a claim for your child.
Who handles your case
Grove and Associates PLC is a Michigan law firm with its only office in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Its responsible attorney, Justin Grove, is licensed in Michigan only and is not licensed in California. Cases for California families are handled together with co-counsel admitted in the court where the case is filed. You will know every lawyer involved, and how the fee is shared, before you sign anything.
Common questions from California families
Is there a class action for California families?
No. Each child’s claim is filed individually. Federal cases from every state, including California, are grouped in MDL No. 3047 in Northern California so evidence and pre-trial rulings are shared, but each claim stays the family’s own.
What is the deadline to file in California?
Personal injury claims, including product injuries, must be filed within 2 years. Time while the injured person is under 18 does not count, so a child generally has until 2 years after turning 18 (age 20). This pause does not apply to claims against government agencies, which have short claim-filing deadlines.
What if my child died?
A wrongful death claim must generally be filed within 2 years of the death.
Didn’t California already sue Meta?
On October 24, 2023, this state's attorney general joined the 33-state lawsuit against Meta (Instagram and Facebook) in federal court in Northern California, saying Meta designed its apps to hook young users and misled the public about the risks. That case is brought by the state. It is separate from a family’s own claim for its child.
Do I need a California lawyer?
Your family works with Grove and Associates PLC, a Michigan firm, and co-counsel admitted in the court where your case is filed. You will know every lawyer involved, and how the fee is shared, before you sign anything.
Does it cost anything?
No. The review is free and confidential. If you hire the firm, the lawyers are paid only from a recovery under a written contingency fee agreement.