Teen Settlement: Meta resolves social media addiction claims

Meta Platforms Inc. reached a settlement with a teenage plaintiff identified in court records as K.D.B. on Friday. The agreement resolves claims that Instagram and Facebook were designed to be addictive, causing the teen mental health issues. Attorneys for the plaintiff confirmed the deal in a statement released to the media.

This resolution follows a similar settlement reached on Thursday with another minor plaintiff, S.J. Both agreements involve confidential terms. The settlements remove two major claims from a consolidated group of lawsuits known as the social media addiction case. This case involves more than 1,600 plaintiffs, including 350 families and 250 school districts.

Snap Inc. remains the only defendant in the current trial, which started in Los Angeles this week with jury selection. Opening arguments are scheduled for November 4. The plaintiffs allege that Snapchat features such as Snapstreaks, Snapscores, and filters encourage compulsive use. They claim this design leads to severe physical and mental health problems, including self-harm.

Emily Jeffcott, trial counsel for K.D.B., stated that the legal team remains committed to improving safety for children on social media. She expressed satisfaction with the resolution on behalf of the client. TikTok and YouTube also reached agreements to resolve claims from S.J. and K.D.B. in the weeks prior to the trial.

Meta has historically denied that its apps are intentionally harmful or addictive. The company has cited its record of building protections for teens. A Meta spokesperson said the firm will continue to defend itself in court. The spokesperson noted that an agreement with 52 bipartisan attorneys general includes strict time limits, no nighttime access, and no notifications during school hours.

In March, a jury in Los Angeles found Meta and Google negligent in a separate landmark trial involving plaintiff K.G.M. The jury awarded K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages. Meta was found 70% responsible for the harm, while YouTube was found 30% responsible. The jury determined that negligence in platform design was a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff's injury.

In August, Meta agreed to pay approximately $18 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 states. The court filing indicated that Meta denies the allegations and any liability to the plaintiffs. Snap Inc. maintains that its platform is built differently from traditional social media, opening to a camera rather than a feed. A Snap spokesperson stated that the company believes evidence will support that it has prioritized its community.