TikTok settled a high-profile lawsuit on Monday evening, which alleges that social media companies intentionally make their products addictive, causing harm to users. Snap settled the case last week, but Meta and YouTube — the other defendants — are now heading to trial, where jury selection begins on Tuesday. Centering around a 19-year-old plaintiff known by the initials K.G.M., this case is the first of many similar legal challenges against social platforms. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube head ...

Core Viewpoint - TikTok has settled a lawsuit alleging that social media companies intentionally create addictive products that harm users, while Snap settled a similar case last week, leaving Meta and YouTube to face trial [1][2]. Group 1 - The lawsuit centers around a 19-year-old plaintiff identified as K.G.M., marking the first of many legal challenges against social media platforms [2]. - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube head Neal Mohan are expected to testify, which could influence the outcomes of numerous other lawsuits [2]. - By settling, TikTok and Snap are not admitting to the allegations but have reached an agreement with the plaintiff outside of court, with settlement terms undisclosed [3].

By Courtney Rozen and Jody Godoy WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - TikTok agreed to settle a landmark lawsuit on social media ​addiction on Tuesday, according to one of the plaintiff's ‌lawyers, the same day the trial was due to start against two remaining companies. Terms ‌of the settlement were not disclosed. TikTok is one of four companies, including Meta, Snap and YouTube, which is a unit of Alphabet-owned Google, facing allegations that their platforms are fueling a youth mental health crisis. The ...

Core Viewpoint - Snapchat's parent company has settled a civil lawsuit related to tech addiction, while other major tech companies like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are still facing trial [1][2] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was initiated by a 19-year-old plaintiff, K.G.M, who claims to have developed mental health issues due to social media addiction [2] - This California case is the first of three "bellwether" trials that consolidate thousands of similar lawsuits, with a previous ruling indicating that platform design features may contribute to harm [2][3] Group 2: Legal Context - Historically, tech companies have relied on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to defend against legal liability for user-generated content [3] - The first bellwether trial is scheduled to begin on January 27, with jury selection still pending, and Snap remains a defendant in the other two cases [3] Group 3: Potential Implications - The lawsuits could lead to significant consequences, including billions in damages, changes in platform design, and new regulations on how tech firms engage with minors [4] - The litigation is being compared to landmark cases against the tobacco and opioid industries, which faced accountability for public health harms [4]