Snap settles teen social media addiction lawsuit prior to trial

Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, has settled a lawsuit brought by two teenagers alleging the platform was designed to be addictive. The American Bazaar, cbs19.tv, kens5.com, The Korea Daily, and the International Business Times, Singapore Edition, all reported that the company reached the agreement just before a landmark trial. The plaintiffs claimed Snapchat's design contributed to mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

Attorneys John Morgan and Emily Jeffcott stated that their goal remains holding social media companies accountable for their impacts on children. According to The American Bazaar, the plaintiffs had previously reached similar settlements with Meta, TikTok, and YouTube over comparable claims. [1]

Snapchat originally focused on person to person photo sharing where messages disappeared after viewing. As FTMQ Creators reported earlier, the platform has expanded into feature developments like Discover, which lets brands show ad-supported short form content, and regular holiday marketing initiatives targeting consumer purchasing decisions. [7][8][9]