Meta Reaches Settlement With Second Teen Plaintiff in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

Meta reached a settlement with a teen plaintiff identified as K.D.B., who alleged that Instagram and Facebook caused her mental health problems and were addictive, according to her attorneys. This announcement followed a settlement with another teen plaintiff, S.J., just one day prior. The financial terms of both agreements remain confidential.

Trial Status and Remaining Defendants

• Trial Location: Los Angeles, with jury selection beginning recently and opening arguments slated for Nov. 4.
• Remaining Defendant: Snap Inc. is now the sole remaining defendant in this specific trial.
• Allegations Against Snap: Plaintiffs allege that Snapchat features like Snapstreaks, Snapscores, and filters encourage compulsive use and cause mental and physical health issues.

Context of the Litigation

The case is the fourth bellwether in a consolidated group of cases involving over 1,600 plaintiffs, including families and school districts, accusing tech companies of designing addictive products. Meta has consistently denied that its apps are purposefully harmful or addictive for young users.

Official Platform Policies and Safety Measures

A Meta spokesperson stated that the company will continue to defend itself in court and highlighted past safety efforts, including an agreement involving bipartisan attorneys general aimed at establishing restrictions like night access limits and school-hour notification blocks. Snap maintains that its platform was designed differently from traditional feed-based social media and emphasizes its built-in safety tools.

To verify original announcements and legal updates, readers can consult official court filings or accredited news reporting from outlets like NBC News.