TikTok settles landmark lawsuit over addictive design, avoids high-stakes trial

TikTok has reportedly settled a major lawsuit that claimed the app is designed to be addictive and harmful to users, avoiding what could have been the first big trial of its kind.

According to AP News, the case began in 2023 when K.G.M., a 20-year-old woman from California, said that her childhood use of TikTok, and other apps like Meta, YouTube, and Snap, caused serious anxiety, depression, and body image issues.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that these apps were built like slot machines, with endless scrolling, autoplay videos, and personalised feeds meant to keep people hooked and generate advertising revenue.

Plaintiff attorney Joseph VanZandt confirmed the settlement but did not share any financial details. Other lawyers described it as “a good resolution.”

The lawsuit was part of a group of similar cases in Los Angeles, involving individuals, schools, and even state governments.

Snapchat also recently settled, leaving Meta and YouTube to face trial next week.

The companies denied that they were trying to addict kids, saying there was no clear proof that their apps caused mental health problems like eating disorders or self-harm.

Meta, on its part, said it worked hard to protect young users, while Google called the claims against YouTube “false.”

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube chief Neal Mohan are expected to testify.

Experts said the case could set an important precedent: if courts ruled that addictive design counted as a “product defect,” it could have forced social media companies to change features like time limits or less-engaging feeds.

The settlements now allow TikTok and others to avoid a trial that could have set rules for the entire industry, but the ongoing cases may still push platforms to take more responsibility for how their apps affect young users.