Montgomery County filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, Aug. 12, against Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google, alleging the companies' social media platforms are fueling anxiety, depression and self-harm among an estimated 181,600 minors countywide.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube of negligence and creating a public nuisance. Montgomery County is the largest jurisdiction in Pennsylvania to join the litigation, which now includes more than 3,100 federal cases consolidated before a single judge.

Colonial and Wissahickon school districts, which serve Whitemarsh, Plymouth and Whitpain townships, are among the county's districts whose students participated in the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey. That survey collected more than 267,000 student responses statewide and found that three or more hours of daily social media use roughly doubles the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms in young people.

The numbers are stark.

Statewide, the PAYS data showed 33% of students are at risk due to depressive symptoms, down from 42% in 2021, and 14% seriously considered suicide. Ninety-seven percent of respondents have a phone with internet access, and 24% spend four or more hours on social media during a school day.

"Parents send their children to school and out into the world hoping they will learn, grow, and thrive," Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chair Jamila H. Winder said in the county's announcement. "But too many young people are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, and other serious mental health challenges."

The lawsuit was filed jointly by the Board of Commissioners and the District Attorney's Office. Commissioner Neil Makhija said the county has a responsibility to act when companies profit from products that contribute to a youth mental health crisis.

Google spokesperson José Castañeda told the Philadelphia Inquirer the allegations are not true, saying the company provides age-appropriate experiences for young people. A Meta spokesperson said the company is confident the evidence will demonstrate its commitment to supporting young users.

The filing comes one day after Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday filed a separate lawsuit against TikTok in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, accusing the platform of misrepresenting its content to secure a 13+ app store rating while knowingly designing addictive features aimed at children.

Jury selection began Wednesday in the first federal trial in the multidistrict litigation, a case brought in 2023 by 29 states including Pennsylvania. In a separate proceeding, a New Mexico court recently ordered Meta to pay nearly $942 million after a jury found 75,000 violations of that state's consumer protection law.

During the 2025-2026 school year, county-supported programs provided 233 student mental health screenings, facilitated 620 support groups and offered suicide prevention education for nearly 1,500 students. Montgomery County also plans to open a 24/7 Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Center later in 2026.

No hearing date has been set for the county's case. Bucks County filed a similar suit in 2023.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.