Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has reached a settlement in a social media addiction lawsuit days before trial. The case was scheduled to start in Los Angeles.
Lawyers announced the deal at a California Superior Court hearing. Snap later said all parties resolved the dispute amicably. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
Other Tech Giants Remain in Court
Other defendants include Meta, which owns Instagram, TikTok parent ByteDance, and Google parent Alphabet. None of these companies have settled.
The plaintiff, a 19-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., claimed platform algorithms caused addiction and harmed her mental health.
Because the remaining companies did not settle, the trial will move forward against them. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on 27 January.
Executives Expected to Testify
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the trial. Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel had also been scheduled to appear before the settlement.
Meta, TikTok, and Alphabet did not respond to media requests seeking comment on the settlement.
Snap remains a defendant in other social media addiction lawsuits. Courts have consolidated those cases into a larger legal action.
Legal Protections Face Challenges
The lawsuits could challenge long-standing legal shields for social media companies.
Companies argue that Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act protects them from liability. The law shields platforms from responsibility for content posted by users.
Plaintiffs argue platform design actively drives addiction. They point to algorithms and notifications as features that shape user behavior.
Social media companies deny responsibility for alleged harms. They say evidence does not prove links to depression or eating disorders.
