Meta Pays to End Addictive Design Lawsuit Before November Trial

Meta has settled a lawsuit alleging that its social media platforms were engineered to be addictive, avoiding a court date scheduled for next month. The agreement resolves claims brought by an 18-year-old woman identified as K.D.B., who argued that the design of the platforms contributed to her mental health struggles. The terms of the settlement were not made public.

The case was one of several brought against major tech companies. K.D.B. originally sued Meta, Snap, TikTok, and Alphabet’s YouTube. TikTok and YouTube both reached separate settlements before the current trial phase. Another plaintiff, identified as S.J., settled with Meta last week. That leaves Snap as the sole defendant remaining in the current litigation.

Jury selection began this week in Los Angeles. Opening statements are expected in early November, with lawyers for the plaintiffs projecting the trial will run into mid-December. The remaining claims focus on Snap’s features, including Snapstreaks, Snapscores, push notifications, and filters. The plaintiffs allege these tools maximize user time on the app and led to severe injuries, including depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, and self-harm. Snap disputes these allegations and defends its practices.

Emily Jeffcott, trial counsel for K.D.B., said the firm is pleased with the resolution on behalf of their client. She stated that the firm remains committed to holding tech companies accountable for safety issues affecting young users. Jeffcott noted that the firm will proceed with the complaint against Snap.

Meta faces similar litigation in other venues, including a multi-state case. In August, the company agreed to settle claims from dozens of states that alleged it hooked young users while concealing risks. A spokesperson for Meta said the company continues to defend itself in court and stands by its record.

The spokesperson noted that trials, dismissals, and settlements are common in bellwether litigation. She cited a recent agreement with 52 bipartisan attorneys general, which includes strict time limits, no nighttime access, and no notifications during school hours. Meta stated it has spent more than a decade building protections for teens.