Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has settled a social media addiction lawsuit just days before trial. The case was scheduled to begin in Los Angeles.
Lawyers announced the settlement at a California Superior Court hearing. Snap later said all parties resolved the dispute amicably. The terms of the agreement remain confidential.
Other Platforms Continue Facing Trial
Other defendants include Meta, owner of Instagram, TikTok parent ByteDance, and Google owner Alphabet. None of these companies have settled.
The plaintiff, a 19-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., claimed that platform algorithms caused addiction and harmed her mental health.
Because the remaining companies did not settle, the trial will proceed against them. Jury selection is scheduled to start on 27 January.
Executives Expected to Testify in Court
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to appear during the trial. Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel had also been scheduled to testify before the settlement.
Meta, TikTok, and Alphabet did not respond to media requests seeking comment on the agreement.
Snap remains a defendant in other social media addiction lawsuits. Courts have consolidated those cases into a larger legal action.
Legal Defenses Face Scrutiny
The lawsuits could challenge a long-standing legal shield 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 user-posted content.
Plaintiffs argue that platform design actively encourages addiction. They point to algorithms and notifications as features that manipulate user behavior.
Social media companies deny responsibility for alleged harms. They argue the evidence does not prove links to depression or eating disorders.
