Snap Could Become Latest Giant to Settle Upcoming Social Media Addiction Trial
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Snap, the company behind the popular app Snapchat, is close to removing itself from an upcoming landmark lawsuit.
On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Snap has reached a tentative settlement with a 15-year-old Florida teen. The lawsuit claims the teen developed severe mental health issues after using Snapchat and other social media apps.
This trial is set to be closely followed as thousands of other social media addiction lawsuits are pending in federal and state courts.
Snap would become the third company to settle out of court, with the trial scheduled to begin next week. TikTok reached a settlement several weeks ago, and Google’s YouTube agreed to a deal before that. Once Snap settles, Meta will remain the only defendant.
If Meta refuses to settle, the lawsuit will be the second case to go before a jury over claims that social media companies designed their platforms to be intentionally addictive.
The first case involved a 20-year-old woman who claimed she developed anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia after using apps like Instagram from a young age. It was held earlier this year.
Snap and TikTok settled out of court, but Meta and Google took her case to trial. The jury ordered them to pay a combined $6 million, and both companies are appealing the decision.
Social Media Lawsuit Brought by Tennessee Is Underway
Families and individuals are not alone in suing the social media giants. School districts and states have also filed lawsuits claiming that these platforms have fueled a mental health crisis.
This week, a trial against Meta began in Nashville, brought on by the Tennessee Attorney General.
The case focuses on Instagram, arguing that Meta violated the state’s consumer protection laws by intentionally creating a product that fosters addiction in children.
“Instagram is a bottomless pit where users can spend an infinite amount of their time,” the lawsuit states. “And Meta profits from each additional second a user spends on the platform.”
This trial is expected to last nearly two months.