Key facts
- Snap has reached a tentative agreement to settle a lawsuit claiming social media platforms are harmful to children and young adults.
- TikTok and YouTube have also settled their portions of the case.
- Meta is the only remaining defendant in the lawsuit.
- Meta has previously lost similar child safety lawsuits.
- A Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in damages against Meta and Google in a separate case.
Snap has reached a tentative agreement to settle a lawsuit that accused social media platforms of being harmful to children and young adults. This development follows similar settlements by TikTok and YouTube in the same case, leaving Meta as the sole remaining defendant. The case was scheduled to go to trial later this month.
Meta has faced previous legal setbacks in similar child safety lawsuits. Earlier this year, the company suffered its first courtroom defeat in New Mexico over the matter. In March, a Los Angeles jury also ruled against Meta and Google, awarding $6 million in damages to a plaintiff identified as K.G.M., or Kaley.
These legal precedents are fueling a rise in lawsuits against social media companies, citing concerns over addiction and the negative impact of algorithms on the mental health of minors. The outcomes of these cases could compel companies to implement enhanced child safety measures, parental controls, and design modifications to mitigate future litigation risks.