Snapchat has reached a settlement to avoid a major civil trial in the U.S. that accused the platform, along with Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, of contributing to social media addiction among young users.
The case, which was scheduled for a jury trial next week in Los Angeles, has been called a “bellwether” with potential nationwide implications, as similar lawsuits are being pursued. Many of these cases are coordinated by the Social Media Victims Law Centre, an organization focused on holding tech companies accountable for harms affecting minors online.
In a joint statement, Snap Inc. and the law centre said, “The parties are pleased to have resolved this matter amicably,” though they did not provide details of the settlement.
The lawsuit alleged that social media companies are responsible for addiction because their algorithms and business models are designed to maximize user engagement, often promoting content that can harm mental health. Claims included links to depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalizations, and, in extreme cases, suicide.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel had been expected to testify, along with other social media executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. A spokesperson for the Social Media Victims Law Centre emphasized, “While online platforms offer many benefits, their owners must be accountable for the safe and responsible use of their services.”
The specific Los Angeles case involved a 19-year-old woman who said prolonged social media use caused severe mental health issues. The trial, presided over by Judge Carolyn Kuhl, had been scheduled to start in early February after jury selection.
