TikTok has agreed in principle to settle a lawsuit brought by a California teenager who accused social media platforms of fueling addiction and harming young users, according to a lawyer representing the plaintiff.
The agreement, announced Tuesday, comes just as jury selection was set to begin in a closely watched trial examining whether major tech companies should be held legally responsible for the mental health impact of their products on minors.
The case centers on a 19-year-old woman identified in court filings as K.G.M., who alleges that she became addicted to social media at a young age due to what she described as intentionally addictive design features built into popular apps.
K.G.M. claims prolonged exposure to social media contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts, arguing that the companies engineered their platforms to capture and hold users’ attention at the expense of mental well-being.
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Her attorney, Joseph VanZandt, said the plaintiff “reached an agreement in principle to settle her case” with TikTok, though the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters regarding the agreement.
The lawsuit is one of hundreds filed across the United States accusing social media companies of harming children and teenagers through features such as endless scrolling, algorithm-driven content, and push notifications.
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K.G.M.’s case was selected as one of three “bellwether” trials — test cases meant to gauge how juries may respond to broader claims tied to youth social media addiction.
While TikTok has now reached a settlement, the legal battle is far from over for other companies named in the suit.
The lawsuit originally named four major tech firms: TikTok, YouTube, Meta, and Snap.
Snap reached its own settlement with K.G.M. on January 20, though neither the company nor the plaintiff’s legal team disclosed details of that agreement.
Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify as part of the ongoing trial process, underscoring the significance of the case for the broader tech industry.
With TikTok and Snap now settled, attention shifts to the remaining defendants and the outcome of the bellwether trials, which could shape future litigation involving social media companies and youth mental health.