A social media addiction lawsuit targeting Meta has been dropped, just days before a planned jury trial in California. According to Meta, the plaintiff ended the case without receiving any payment.
The dispute was part of a broader wave of lawsuits involving major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Snap, over claims that their products were designed to maximize user engagement. TikTok and YouTube had already reached settlement agreements, while Snap had recently confirmed a tentative deal.
The trial had been scheduled to begin next week in Los Angeles Superior Court. The plaintiff, a Florida teenager identified by the initials R.K.C., had argued that social platforms used features such as endless scrolling and constant notifications to keep users online longer.
The case arrived after other courtroom developments involving Meta, including a New Mexico ruling earlier this year that resulted in a $375 million penalty, and a separate Los Angeles verdict that also drew attention to how social apps are designed and moderated.
Meta said the dismissal shows it will continue defending itself against what it calls unfounded claims. The outcome may still influence how tech companies think about product design, digital well-being, and the next generation of online experiences.
