TikTok has reportedly reached an agreement to resolve a group of cases claiming the company’s platform was designed to intentionally addict young users and caused serious mental health issues.
The social media giant will no longer be a part of an upcoming trial, which is expected to begin in October. According to Reuters, it involves three teens who say they developed mental health issues like depression, eating disorders and self-harm after using social media. The companies behind Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube are still set to advance to trial.
That case is just one example of thousands of social media lawsuits active in both state and federal courts over similar claims.
TikTok has repeatedly settled out of these cases as they approach trial.
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Tech Giants Face Growing Wave of Social Media Addiction Lawsuits
The upcoming trial is the latest test for popular social media platforms as they combat growing claims that they have fueled a mental health crisis across the country.
Lawsuits have been filed by families, school districts and state attorneys general.
So far, only one case has gone before a jury. That trial involved a 20-year-old woman who claimed that she developed severe mental health issues after using platforms like Instagram and YouTube from a young age.
The jury sided with her, ordering Meta and Google to pay her a combined $6 million.
A similar trial involving a Florida teen was supposed to begin last month, but he dropped his case after securing multiple settlements.
More trials are expected at both the federal and state levels.
