Meta settles class action suit over teen addiction claims
The tech giant resolved the case before trial, leaving Snap as the sole defendant in the Los Angeles proceeding that begins this week.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
Meta agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by an 18-year-old woman who claimed the company designed its social media platforms to create addictive behaviors. The settlement was reached just before the case was scheduled to go to trial in November. An attorney for one of the plaintiffs confirmed the resolution, though the specific financial terms were not made public.
The lawsuit was originally filed by two plaintiffs, identified in court records as K.D.B. and S.J. They accused Meta and Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, of engineering features that kept young users on the apps for excessive periods. K.D.B. alleged that these design choices contributed to her mental health struggles. S.J. reached a separate settlement with Meta last week.
The plaintiffs initially included TikTok and YouTube in the suit. Both companies settled their portions of the case before the trial began. The core of the complaint asserts that the platforms caused severe mental and physical health issues, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm, by prioritizing user engagement over user safety.
Snap remains the only major defendant in the current trial. A spokesperson for the Lanier Law Firm, which represents the plaintiffs, said the team will proceed with their claims against Snap. They argue that features such as Snapstreaks, Snapscores, push notifications, and filters were designed to maximize the time young users spent on the app. The firm maintains that this compulsive use led to the specific health injuries alleged in the complaint.
Snap disputes these allegations and defends its business practices. Jury selection began this week in Los Angeles. Opening statements are expected in early November. Plaintiff attorneys anticipate the trial will continue until mid-December. Emily Jeffcott, trial counsel for K.D.B., stated in a statement that she is pleased with the just resolution for her client and remains committed to holding tech companies accountable.
A Meta spokesperson said in a statement that the company will continue to defend itself in other similar lawsuits. She noted that trials, dismissals, and settlements are standard parts of the bellwether legal process. Meta stated it has spent more than a decade building protections for teens. The company also referenced an agreement with 52 bipartisan attorneys general that includes strict time limits, no nighttime access, and no notifications during school hours.
In August, Meta reached a separate agreement with dozens of states. Those states alleged the company used platforms like Facebook and Instagram to hook young internet users while hiding the associated risks. This new settlement resolves the specific claims brought by K.D.B. but leaves Meta facing other litigation regarding its impact on user mental health.
