Snapchat has reached a settlement in a major lawsuit accusing social media companies of designing apps that create addiction among young users. The agreement was announced just a week before the first trial in a case that could set a precedent for similar lawsuits against leading social media platforms.
The case is part of a series of social media addiction lawsuits targeting top companies, including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube. Plaintiffs, including thousands of teenagers, school districts, and state attorneys general, claim that features like infinite scroll, auto video play, and algorithmic recommendations have led to compulsive use, causing depression, eating disorders, and self-harm. They are seeking both financial compensation and changes to the design of these apps to reduce excessive usage.
Snapchat’s settlement was confirmed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles County, but no details about the financial terms were disclosed. The case was filed by a teenager identified as K.G.M., who said social media addiction had harmed her mental health. While Snapchat has settled, no agreements have been reached yet with Meta, TikTok, or YouTube, and Snapchat remains a defendant in other related cases.
These lawsuits are being closely watched as they introduce a new legal theory that social media platforms could be considered defective products liable for personal injury. Plaintiffs plan to present internal documents showing that executives knew about teen mental health issues linked to their apps. Executives such as Evan Spiegel of Snapchat and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta were expected to testify. The companies argue there is no proven link between social media use and addiction and claim the lawsuits may violate speech protections on their platforms.
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