YouTube has settled a lawsuit filed by a teenager who alleged that the platform contributed to mental health problems and social media addiction, according to lawyers representing the plaintiff.
The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
The case was brought by a 16-year-old Florida resident, identified in court documents by his initials, who alleged that excessive use of social media platforms led to addiction, sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety.
The lawsuit named YouTube as well as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok as defendants. While YouTube has now settled, the remaining companies are still scheduled to face trial in California next month.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that the dispute had been resolved.
“Our focus remains on building age-appropriate products and parental controls that deliver on that promise,” the spokesperson said.
Lawyers representing the plaintiff said YouTube’s decision to settle before trial was significant and pledged to continue pursuing claims against other social media companies.
The case is among thousands of lawsuits alleging that social media platforms were intentionally designed to encourage addictive behaviour among young users.
More than 3,300 similar cases are currently pending in California state courts, while another 2,600 lawsuits involving individuals, schools, municipalities and states remain active in federal court.
Social media companies have denied the allegations and maintain that they have implemented extensive safety measures for younger users.
The upcoming California trial will be the second major state court case examining claims that social media platforms contributed to youth mental health problems through addictive product design.
