TikTok settles trio of social media addiction lawsuits in Los Angeles | Latest Tech News
TikTok has reportedly settled a trio of upcoming lawsuits introduced by youngsters who accused the company of fueling a mental health disaster by implementing addictive options on the favored social media app.
The three bellwether instances had been half of a wave of roughly 3,3000 lawsuits in Los Angeles Superior Court filed against TikTok, YouTube mum or dad Google, Instagram and Facebook mum or dad Meta and Snapchat. The tech corporations are accused of getting youngsters hooked on social media despite dangerous results that included anxiety, depression, eating issues and self-harm.
The phrases of the TikTok settlements are confidential and subject to the finalization of written settlement agreements, plaintiffs’ attorneys Joseph VanZandt of Beasley Allen and Emily Jeffcott of Morgan & Morgan said in a joint assertion.
A view of the TikTok app brand in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, May 31, 2026. AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
“Each plaintiff maintains claims against Meta, YouTube, and Snap, with those trials schedule to proceed in October,” the legal professionals said.
TikTok didn’t immediately return a request for remark.
The plaintiffs who reached settlements with TikTok had been all recognized by their initials because they had been minors at the time of the claims. They included a 15-year-old woman from Illinois, a 15-year-old from New Jersey and an 18-year-old from Mississippi.
All three plaintiffs alleged that they developed eating issues, self-harm, anxiety and depression as a direct end result of their social media addictions.
The wave of instances introduced in Los Angeles Superior Court, and a separate tranche of more than 2,600 instances in California federal court, have been hailed by critics as a “Big Tobacco moment” for tech corporations who they are saying have long skirted accountability for the public hurt brought on by their apps.
The TikTok brand is displayed on a cell phone in entrance of a laptop screen on Friday, October 14, 2022, in Boston. (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
Meta and Google suffered a major setback in March after they misplaced the first bellwether case introduced in Los Angeles on behalf of a teen called KGM. Meta was ordered to pay $4.2 million in damages in that case, while Google was ordered to pay $1.8 million.
The two corporations have denied wrongdoing and vowed to appeal.
TikTok and Snap had been initially defendants in that case, but reached settlements before going to trial.
Last month, a 15-year-old in Florida reached settlements with Google, TikTok and Snap just days before his trial was set to start in Los Angeles, but dropped his lawsuit against remaining defendant Meta.
Several major tech corporations face a wave of social media addiction lawsuits. Tada Images – stock.adobe.com
“In light of the overall successful result of the litigation and his concerns about enduring a grueling weeks-long trial, he has elected to withdraw his claims against Meta,” attorneys for the Florida teen said in a assertion.
“He’s ready to close this chapter and focus on his recovery and engage in therapy as he aspires to have a normal life.”
With Post wires
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