TikTok has reached an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit alleging the company, along with other social media giants, designed their platforms to be addictive for young users. This agreement comes just hours before jury selection was set to begin in Los Angeles for the first such case to go to trial.
While the terms of TikTok’s proposed settlement remain undisclosed, a lawyer for the plaintiff confirmed the agreement. Separate confidential settlements were also reached with Snap Inc. on January 20th. However, similar claims against Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as Google’s YouTube, are slated to proceed for now.
The plaintiff, identified by the initials K.G.M., has filed thousands of complaints against social media companies, accusing them of profiting at the expense of young people who spend excessive time on screens. This case is considered a crucial test for the thousands of other similar lawsuits pending.
Legal analysts suggest that social media companies could face billions of dollars in damages. Lawyers for the companies have argued against the claims, stating a lack of sufficient evidence and citing federal law that shields them from liability for content posted on their platforms.
A professor from Santa Clara University School of Law noted that it is difficult to draw firm conclusions from settlements without knowing the specific terms, suggesting various strategic reasons behind the decisions to settle.
While TikTok and Snap have reached amicable resolutions, a lawyer for K.G.M. stated there are no current settlement talks with Google or Meta. Google confirmed this, while Meta declined to comment. The trial for K.G.M.’s case against the remaining defendants is expected to commence next week and continue until around March 20th.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the growing concerns and potential liabilities surrounding the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.
