Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has reached a settlement in a social media addiction lawsuit, averting a high-profile trial set to begin in Los Angeles.
The terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, as revealed by attorneys during a California Superior Court hearing. Following the hearing, Snap issued a statement to the BBC, indicating that all parties were “pleased to have been able to resolve this matter in an amicable manner.”
Other defendants named in the case include Meta (parent of Instagram), ByteDance’s TikTok, and Alphabet’s YouTube. As of now, these companies have not reached settlements.
The plaintiff, a 19-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., claimed that the platforms’ algorithmic design led to her addiction and negatively impacted her mental health.
With no settlements reached with the remaining defendants, the trial is slated to proceed against Meta, TikTok, and Alphabet, with jury selection scheduled to commence on January 27.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify. Prior to Tuesday’s settlement, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was also slated to appear on the stand.
Meta, TikTok, and Alphabet have not yet responded to requests from the BBC for comment regarding the settlement.
Snap remains a defendant in other consolidated social media addiction cases currently before the court.
These closely watched cases have the potential to challenge a legal precedent that social media companies have historically used as a defense.
These companies have long relied on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which shields them from liability for content posted by third-party users.
However, plaintiffs contend that the platforms are intentionally designed to foster addiction through specific choices related to algorithms and notifications.
The social media companies maintain that the plaintiffs’ evidence fails to establish a direct causal link between platform usage and alleged harms such as depression and eating disorders.
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