Snap settles lawsuit alleging platform design caused social media addiction in teens

Snap reached a settlement on Monday with two teenagers who accused the company of designing Snapchat to be addictive, resolving the case just before a scheduled trial.

The agreement, reported by CBS News and TechCrunch, ends a legal challenge brought by plaintiffs identified as S.J. and K.D.B. The teenagers alleged that Snapchat's design contributed to mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. TechCrunch noted that the plaintiffs linked their compulsive usage habits to specific platform features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay.

While the specific financial terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, the deal averts a trial where Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was expected to testify. Mark Lanier, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, told CBS News he believed a jury would have found the company's conduct "reprehensible." Snap stated the parties were pleased to resolve the matter in an amicable manner and reaffirmed its commitment to community well-being.

Snap was the final social media company named in this specific lawsuit to reach a resolution, according to CBS News. Meta settled its portion of the claims last week, while Alphabet and TikTok had also previously resolved the allegations. Reuters reported the settlement occurred during a trial period meant to test claims that social media usage directly caused mental health issues.

The case is part of a broader wave of litigation facing major tech firms over the impact of their technology on young users. TechCrunch reported that these companies face thousands of similar lawsuits in federal and state courts. In a separate landmark decision earlier this year, a jury awarded $6 million to a lead plaintiff after finding Meta and YouTube liable for similar harms.

Background

The plaintiffs reported they began using YouTube as young as age 3 and started using other social media platforms at approximately age 9. In August, Meta reached a $17.1 billion settlement with dozens of U.S. states regarding claims that it misled the public and designed its platforms to be addictive for children.