Meta and other social networks have agreed to pay $27 million to settle a Kentucky school district lawsuit over claims their products are addictive and harmful to minors. The Breathitt County school district was one of over 1,000 districts nationwide that sued companies like Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube, alleging their platforms cause addiction, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicide among young users.

Meta will pay $9 million, while Snap and TikTok agreed to $8 million each, and YouTube will pay slightly more than $2 million. YouTube also committed to providing teacher training programs to help educators use its platform effectively. All companies pledged stronger safeguards for younger users. The Kentucky district originally sought $60 million to address mental health impacts on students.

This settlement was the first bellwether case among thousands of lawsuits against social media companies, with potential total damages reaching $400 billion. The Breathitt County principal reported significant time spent addressing "social media stuff" like fights recorded and online bullying. The first actual social media addiction trial involving a school district is now scheduled for February 2027, signaling ongoing legal battles between tech companies and educational institutions.