Google-owned YouTube has settled a lawsuit brought by a teenage plaintiff who claimed the platform harmed his mental health, avoiding what would have been the second California trial over allegations that social media companies fuel youth addiction.
The settlement, announced on Tuesday (23 June), comes as legal battles continue against Meta’s Instagram, Snap Inc.’s Snapchat and ByteDance’s TikTok, which remain due to face trial in July.
The plaintiff, identified as R.K.C., alleged he began using social media at around eight years old and developed addiction, sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety as a result.
The lawsuit is one of more than 3,300 similar cases pending in California state court, alongside another 2,600 in federal court, accusing social media companies of designing addictive platforms that harm young users. The companies deny wrongdoing and say they have introduced protections for teens.
The case follows a landmark California jury verdict in March, which found Google and Meta negligent in a similar addiction case and ordered them to pay millions in damages.
The youth mental health litigation has expanded beyond individual cases, with school districts, municipalities and nearly every U.S. state filing lawsuits against the companies.
Earlier this year, a Kentucky school district settled claims with YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat, while New Mexico won a $375 million judgment against Meta in a separate youth safety case.
More trials are expected later this year as courts continue to test the legal responsibility of social media firms for harm to children.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China and North Korea to strengthen cooperation and maintain "strategic resolve" amid what he described as growing global instability. He made the remarks during talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday.
The Washington Agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has sparked a mix of hope, doubt, and cautious realism among Armenians.
Documentary filmmaker Mikael Silkeberg has said that making a film exploring connections between Scandinavia and Azerbaijan helped him better understand his own mixed Nordic identity.
A documentary produced by AnewZ highlighting the Azerbaijani city of Shaki and its living heritage was screened on 21 May during the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China and North Korea to strengthen cooperation and maintain "strategic resolve" amid what he described as growing global instability. He made the remarks during talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday.
Right-wing British politician Ann Widdecombe has died at the age of 78. The death of the former Conservative MP, television personality and Reform UK spokesperson was announced by her management company on Friday.
Andy Burnham is on the brink of becoming Labour leader and prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in the first round of leadership nominations.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
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