Meta Settles Teen Addiction Case, Snap Faces Trial

Meta has settled with an 18-year-old Mississippi woman who alleged Instagram and Facebook encouraged compulsive use and contributed to mental-health problems and disordered eating. The company had already settled with the other teen whose claims were set for the Los Angeles trial, leaving Snap as the only defendant expected to face the case; the settlements also mean Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will not testify. The claims are part of thousands of lawsuits alleging social media companies designed features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling to promote addictive use among young people, allegations the companies deny. The bellwether cases may shape the resolution of similar lawsuits, following a separate March verdict that found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman and awarded her $6 million.