Reuters reported Monday, Nov. 2, that lawyers for two teenagers said Snap Inc. had agreed to settle their claims over alleged social media harms while jury selection was underway in a Los Angeles case. Reuters cited a statement from the plaintiffs’ attorneys and did not provide a payment amount or other settlement terms.
S.J., 16, is from Illinois; K.D.B., 18, is from Mississippi. Both say social media use played a role in depression, anxiety and eating disorders. The teens say their use of YouTube began when they were as young as 3, with other platforms coming later, around age 9. They cite autoplay and feeds that continue loading as features that encouraged compulsive use.
Reuters reported that the teens had resolved claims against TikTok and YouTube. As of Oct. 30, the California Courts Newsroom said Snap was the only remaining defendant after Meta settled. EconoTimes previously covered Meta’s settlement ahead of the Snap case.
The coordinated Los Angeles litigation includes allegations that platforms used design features to keep users engaged and increase advertising revenue. A 2023 Los Angeles Superior Court ruling summarized that theory; it was not a finding against Snap in this case.
Before the reported settlement, a Snap spokesperson told ABC7 that the teenagers’ allegations did not reflect their experiences on Snapchat or how the platform was designed. In a separate Los Angeles case in March, a jury found Meta and YouTube negligent and awarded a young woman $6 million, Reuters reported. That verdict does not decide the claims against Snap.
ABC7 reported Oct. 31 that opening statements were scheduled for Nov. 4 if the case proceeded. That timetable was reported before Monday’s settlement announcement and may have changed.
