Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as ByteDance’s TikTok, and Google’s YouTube, are accused of helping harm the mental health of young people.
TikTok settled a lawsuit late on Jan. 26 that alleged social media companies designed their platforms to addict young users, ducking the first in what is expected to be a series of civil trials.
The settlement came as jury selection in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles had been scheduled to begin on Jan. 27.
The case had been viewed as a possible test case for other lawsuits against TikTok, YouTube, Meta, and Snap that are expected to go to court later this year.
In the case at hand, K.G.M., a 19-year-old woman from California, alleged that she has been addicted to social media for more than a decade, and that her use of the technology had contributed to suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.
K.G.M. named TikTok, Meta, Snap, and YouTube as defendants in her lawsuit.
Snap settled with her out of court on Jan. 20.
Related lawsuits filed across the United States claim that big tech companies have been deliberately working to promote addictive use of the technology among the young.
Reuters and Jacki Thrapp contributed to this report.
This is a developing news story and will be updated.
