TikTok settles as Meta and Google face jury in social media addiction suit

A jury will decide whether or not platforms like Instagram and YouTube intentionally foster addictive behaviors in teen users, as their owners — Meta and Google, respectively — head to court over a series of social media lawsuits.

Set to begin today (Jan. 27), the lawsuit claims the companies knowingly created site features that led to addictive behavior, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. It was brought forth by a 19-year-old user, referred to as K.G.M., and her mother. The suit seeks monetary damages for the individual and seeks to force named platforms to change the design of their sites to curb excessive use. The original claim also named Snapchat parent company, Snap, and TikTok, in addition to Meta and Google.

Hours before the tech giants were set to appear before the jury, TikTok reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiff and will no longer face a deposition before the court. Matthew Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center, the organization representing K.G.M., told the press that the terms of the settlement remain confidential.

Last week, Snapchat also settled out of the case, saying the plaintiff's claims were resolved in an "amicable matter." The next day, Snapchat announced new parental controls for teen users, including upgrades to activity and screen time monitoring tools. TikTok and Snapchat are still named in other cases related to tech use and youth mental crises.

K.G.M.'s case, which will be heard in a Los Angeles court, is the first of what could be numerous cases related to social media's effects on user mental health — they are the culmination of years of pressure on Big Tech following a 2021 whistleblower investigation against Meta. The Los Angeles hearing is one of three chosen test cases, selected from the vast number of related suits, that will determine how to proceed with subsequent lawsuits. In addition to individual suits, social media platforms have been sued by child safety coalitions, school districts, and even state attorneys general. Many have been consolidated under state courts.

Some have called the bellwether trials a legal reckoning for platforms and, especially, their executives, many of whom have allegedly been complicit in continuing addictive features on their websites and apps despite warnings from employees. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify before the Los Angeles jury.