TikTok has settled a lawsuit brought by a Florida 15-year-old who claimed the platform contributed to serious mental health problems.
The settlement comes as a July 27 trial was approaching in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The terms remain confidential, with details still being finalized by attorneys. The 15-year-old was identified in the lawsuit by the initials R.K.C.
"He's still a kid. He is still in high school and evaluating the impact that social media has had on his very young life," Emily Jeffcott, an attorney for R.K.C., told NBC News. "I think that should really be a lens that's worth paying attention to."
The lawsuit had accused TikTok, Meta, YouTube, and Snap of designing addictive features such as infinite scroll and autoplay. The lawsuit argued that those types of features had helped fuel his anxiety and depression.
Reuters reported that YouTube had settled with the teenager in June. The case against Meta and Snapchat continues and is still scheduled for trial.
The wire service reported that R.K.C.'s case is among more than 3,000 filed against social media companies in California state court. Plaintiffs range from individuals to school districts and municipalities to state governments.
Earlier this year, New Mexico successfully sued Meta, winning $375 million in damages. The state successfully argued that the company knowingly harmed the mental health of children through its products, including Facebook and Instagram. Following that verdict, New Mexico prosecutors asked the court to order changes to protect children. However, Meta has argued the measures would be impossible to implement.
Reuters reported that in March Meta and Google lost a lawsuit filed by a woman who said she had become addicted to social media at a young age and that it had contributed to a variety of issues. Meta was forced to pay $4.2 million in damages and Google to $1.8 million. In another case brought by a Kentucky school district, Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube all settled before trial, paying out $27 million.
Earlier this year, the United Kingdom announced plans to ban the use of social media by anyone under the age of 16. In making the announcement, Britain cited some of the same design elements referenced in the lawsuits, as well as the impact on children's mental health.
Britain's policy comes after Australia implemented similar age restrictions regarding social media in December 2025. The Australian policy excluded online gaming and messaging apps but focused on social media platforms similar to the UK policy.
