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Tiktok Settles Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Ahead of Trial
TikTok settled on the eve of a Los Angeles trial alleging addictive design harms youth mental health; Snap settled earlier, while Meta and YouTube face weeks-long trial starting this week.
- On Jan 27, TikTok agreed to settle with a plaintiff and will no longer be part of the Los Angeles County Superior Court trial; settlement terms were not disclosed and the company did not respond to requests for comment.
- Plaintiffs argue the apps' deliberate design choices created addiction and harm, citing behavioral tactics likened to slot machines and cigarette-industry methods to undercut Section 230 and First Amendment defenses.
- A 19-year-old plaintiff identified as K.G.M. anchors the bellwether test case, while jury selection starts this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court with 75 potential jurors per day and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify.
- The trial moves forward against Meta and YouTube despite third-party settlements; Snap Inc., parent of Snapchat, settled on January 20 and exited the LA bellwether, while experts warn the verdict could set precedent akin to Big Tobacco trials.
- Later this year, another major trial will begin in the Northern District of California as more than 40 state attorneys general have filed suits and TikTok remains a defendant in other injury cases.
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A user accuses online platforms in a U.S. lawsuit, their services became addictive. The process in Los Angeles could have massive consequences for the industry. Tiktok prefers to agree before.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources133
Leaning Left27Leaning Right25Center46Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Center
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
47% Center
L 28%
C 47%
R 25%
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