TikTok Settles Child Addiction Lawsuit, Trial Avoided

TikTok has reached a settlement in a major lawsuit that accused the platform of deliberately designing features to addict children and harm their mental health. The settlement was announced just before a trial was set to begin in Los Angeles, according to lawyers for the plaintiff.

The financial details of the settlement have not been disclosed. TikTok has not issued an official comment on the agreement so far, the Associated Press reported.

This case is part of a broader legal battle against big social media companies, including Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube. The lawsuit claimed that these platforms use design features to keep young users engaged for long periods, which can lead to addiction and psychological issues.

Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, reached a settlement in the same case last week. Meanwhile, Meta and YouTube are still set to face trial over similar allegations.

The lawsuit is considered a landmark case in the ongoing debate over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and online safety.