A 15-year-old plaintiff has withdrawn his lawsuit against Meta after previously settling similar claims against TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Key facts
- •The plaintiff, known as R.K.C., is a 15-year-old from Florida.
- •R.K.C. received no financial compensation for dropping the lawsuit against Meta.
- •The lawsuit alleged that social media features like infinite scroll caused anxiety and sleep deprivation.
- •A jury previously ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages in a separate case regarding mental health harm.
- •The Los Angeles Superior Court is currently managing hundreds of similar lawsuits against social media companies.
A 15-year-old Florida teenager, identified as R.K.C., has dropped his lawsuit against Meta, in which he alleged that platforms like Instagram caused him addiction and harm. The case was scheduled for a jury trial in Los Angeles next week. R.K.C. had recently settled similar claims against TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.
By the numbers
Reasons for dropping the case
Lawyers for R.K.C. stated that the teenager wanted to hold social media companies accountable and advocate for protections for young people. However, they noted that the prospect of a trial lasting several weeks was a concern, and the plaintiff is now focused on his recovery and therapy. A Meta spokeswoman confirmed that the teenager received no payment for dropping the claims.
Claims of platform harm
The lawsuit alleged that features such as infinite scroll and autoplay drove compulsive use, leading to anxiety and sleep deprivation. These claims are part of a broader set of hundreds of lawsuits currently overseen by the Los Angeles Superior Court, with thousands of similar cases pending across the United States.
Legal context and previous rulings
Social media platforms have previously faced liability in similar cases. A jury recently found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman's mental health, ordering them to pay $6 million in damages. Additionally, Meta reached a settlement with a school district in May and was ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay $375 million regarding platform safety claims.
Timeline
- MayMeta settled with a school district over student welfare costs.
- Next weekThe trial for R.K.C.'s case against Meta was scheduled to begin.
- OctoberThe next social media addiction trial is set to begin.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Technology.
