Wednesday, January 28, 2026-TikTok has agreed to settle a major social media addiction lawsuit just before a landmark trial was set to get underway in Los Angeles. The lawsuit, brought by a 19‑year‑old plaintiff identified by the initials K.G.M., alleges that TikTok and other major tech platforms deliberately designed their apps to be addictive, contributing to depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health harms among young users.
TikTok’s settlement was reached on the same day that jury selection was scheduled to begin, avoiding a courtroom showdown that could have set a high‑profile precedent for the industry.
TikTok was one of four companies named in the lawsuit alongside Meta’s Instagram, Google’s YouTube, and Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc. Snap had previously reached a settlement earlier this month, while TikTok’s terms have not been disclosed.
Although TikTok has settled this particular case, it remains a defendant in other related lawsuits, and the trial against Meta and YouTube is proceeding as planned. Jury selection for that case has already begun and is expected to last several weeks in California Superior Court.
The case is seen as a bellwether for hundreds and potentially thousands of similar claims filed across the United States, as families, teens, school districts, and others argue that social media platforms intentionally maximize engagement at the expense of youth mental health. Legal experts note the comparisons to past litigation against the tobacco industry, as plaintiffs seek to hold tech companies accountable for design choices they say exploit behavioral tendencies and lead to harm.
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