This article was translated from Arabic. Read the Arabic original
Austria Now News – Los Angeles
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has avoided a trial in the United States over allegations of causing social media addiction after reaching a settlement with the two plaintiffs, their lawyers announced on Monday – just two days before opening statements were scheduled to begin before a court in Los Angeles.
Allegations of addictive design
The two young plaintiffs had accused Snapchat of being designed in a way that makes its users addicted, which according to the lawsuit led to depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.
The lawyers said they were proud to have achieved justice for their clients, stressing that their primary goal is to hold social media companies accountable for the impact of their practices on millions of children, and that these settlements allow them to continue working towards that goal. Snap, for its part, said it was pleased to have resolved the case amicably.
Days after Meta settlement
The move comes days after Meta, the parent company of Facebook, avoided a similar trial through a settlement on Friday, the terms of which were also not disclosed.
Over the past years, thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the United States accusing social media platforms of harming children and teenagers. The first bellwether case of its kind ended last March in Los Angeles with a striking verdict, as a jury ordered Meta and Google to pay six million dollars to a 20-year-old woman.
Note for parents
If children show signs of anxiety or depression linked to excessive phone use, consulting a doctor is advised.
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Sources
- ORF – «Social-Media-Sucht: Snapchat entgeht Prozess mit Vergleich» – 02.11.2026 – https://orf.at/stories/3446899/
