Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has settled a social media addiction lawsuit just days before trial. The landmark case was set to start in Los Angeles.
Lawyers revealed the settlement at a California Superior Court hearing. Snap later said all parties resolved the matter amicably. The terms of the agreement remain confidential.
Other Tech Giants Continue Facing Trial
Other defendants include Meta, owner of Instagram, TikTok’s parent ByteDance, and Google owner Alphabet. None of these companies have settled.
The plaintiff, a 19-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., claimed that platform algorithms caused addiction and harmed her mental health.
Since the remaining companies did not settle, the trial will proceed against them. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on 27 January.
Executives Expected to Testify
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to appear in court. Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel had also been scheduled to testify before the settlement.
Meta, TikTok, and Alphabet did not respond to media requests seeking comment.
Snap remains a defendant in other social media addiction lawsuits, which courts have consolidated into one legal action.
Legal Shields Under Scrutiny
The lawsuits could challenge a long-used legal defense for social media companies.
The companies argue that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act shields them from liability. The law protects platforms from responsibility for user-posted content.
Plaintiffs argue that platform design actively encourages addiction. They point to algorithms and notifications as features that influence user behavior.
Social media companies deny responsibility for alleged harms. They say evidence fails to prove links to depression or eating disorders.
