"TikTok has agreed to settle a social media addiction lawsuit just days before trial, while Instagram and YouTube are still on the hook for the landmark legal action that accuses the tech giants of deliberately designing their platforms to exploit and harm children. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but plaintiffs attorneys told The Associated Press that an agreement had been reached on Tuesday, just as jury selection was getting underway in Los Angeles."
"The case was initially filed by a 19-year-old, identified by the initials KGM, who argued that the apps were designed to addict young people, increasing depression and suicidal thoughts. The trial is moving forward against Meta and YouTube, and TikTok remains a defendant in similar, separate cases. KGM's lawsuit claims the companies intentionally designed the platforms to maximize addictiveness among children to boost profits, comparing them to strategies used by tobacco and gambling enterprises."
Plaintiffs accused TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat of deliberately designing platforms to addict young people, increasing depression and suicidal thoughts. TikTok and Snapchat reached undisclosed settlements as Los Angeles jury selection began, while Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube remain defendants and have not settled. The lead plaintiff, a 19-year-old identified as KGM, compared platform tactics to tobacco and gambling strategies and alleged intentional design to maximize addictiveness and profits. Company executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, were expected to testify. Each company denied the allegations and emphasized layers of safeguards.
Read at TheWrap
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