Snapchat’s parent company settles social media addiction lawsuit before trial

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Dan Milmo Global technology editorJanuary 21, 2026 at 02:42 PM

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Snapchat's parent company settled a lawsuit regarding social media addiction shortly before a trial was set to begin in California. The lawsuit, brought by a 19-year-old woman, alleges that addiction to social media apps caused her mental health problems. While Snap settled, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are still facing trial in this bellwether case, which consolidates thousands of similar lawsuits. The case argues that the platforms' design features contribute to harm, potentially bypassing traditional defenses under Section 230. The trial, scheduled to begin January 27th, could have significant consequences, potentially leading to substantial damages, platform design changes, and new regulations for tech companies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Los Angeles 40% Alphabet 50% Beasley Allen 50% United States 50% K.G.M 60% Evan Spiegel 60% YouTube ×270% California ×270% Meta ×270% TikTok ×270% Snapchat ×390%

Keywords

social media addiction 100% lawsuit 90% tech addiction 80% mental health problems 70% platform design 60% bellwether trials 50% section 230 50% legal liability 50% snapchat 40% tech firms 40%