Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, settled a lawsuit on Monday with two teenage plaintiffs who alleged the platform was designed to be addictive, contributing to their mental health struggles. The resolution came just days before the case was set to go to trial in Los Angeles state court, marking the latest development in a series of lawsuits against major social media companies.
The plaintiffs, identified in court documents as S.J. (16, Illinois) and K.D.B. (18, Mississippi), had claimed that features such as autoplay and infinite scroll were engineered to encourage compulsive use from a young age. Their attorneys stated that the settlement allows them to continue pursuing accountability for what they describe as widespread harm caused by social media platforms.
Snap was the last defendant remaining in the case after Meta, TikTok, and YouTube settled with the plaintiffs earlier in the week. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and a Snap spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Plaintiffs’ attorneys confirmed the resolution in statements to multiple outlets.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
Snap Inc. reached a settlement with two teenage plaintiffs on November 2, resolving a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The case had been scheduled to go to trial this month but was settled before jury selection began. The plaintiffs alleged that Snapchat’s design features, such as autoplay and infinite scroll, contributed to compulsive use and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
The settlement follows prior resolutions with Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, which had also been named as defendants. Meta settled with one plaintiff last week, while TikTok and YouTube settled with both plaintiffs earlier in the week. Snap was the sole remaining defendant at the time of the settlement.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Legal Background and Broader Litigation
The lawsuit is part of a larger wave of litigation involving thousands of claims against social media companies, including school districts, municipalities, and individuals. Plaintiffs allege that platforms were intentionally designed to maximize engagement among young users, despite known risks to mental health. The cases are being heard in both federal and state courts across the country.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs have framed the settlements as a step toward holding companies accountable for their impact on youth. John Morgan and Emily Jeffcott, representing plaintiff K.D.B., stated in a release that their goal is to address how the companies’ actions have affected millions of children nationwide.
Company Responses and Denials
Social media companies have consistently rejected claims that their platforms were designed to addict young users. In a statement to CBS News, Snap said the parties were pleased to resolve the matter "in an amicable manner." Representatives for Meta, TikTok, and YouTube did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment when queried by reporters.
The companies have argued that they have implemented measures to enhance safety for young users, including content moderation tools and parental controls. However, plaintiffs’ attorneys contend that these efforts have not sufficiently addressed the core issue of platform design.
Plaintiffs’ Allegations and Timeline
The plaintiffs allege they began using YouTube as early as age 3 and other platforms around age 9. They claim that features like autoplay and infinite scroll fostered compulsive habits, which they link to their mental health challenges. S.J. and K.D.B. are among a group of plaintiffs whose cases were selected as bellwethers to test broader legal arguments in the litigation.
The litigation has drawn significant attention due to its potential to set precedents for how courts view the responsibilities of social media companies toward young users. While the settlements avoid a trial, they do not establish legal precedent or admissions of wrongdoing by the companies involved.