Snapchat developer settled the lawsuit over social media addiction just days before the trial.

Snapchat avoids trial by reaching a settlement in the teen addiction case

Snap Inc. has reached a settlement in a case involving allegations of creating algorithms that cause addiction in teenagers. The lawsuit was initiated by a 19-year-old, who claimed the app’s features negatively impacted his mental health.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the California Superior Court in Los Angeles County announced a settlement between Snap and the claimant. Although the details of the settlement, including the compensation amount, remain confidential, it is clear that this step allowed to avoid public testimony from Snap’s CEO Evan Spiegel.

This event unfolds against a background of concerns expressed by Snap employees 9 years ago when it became apparent that the company’s algorithms could create psychological dependency in teenagers. However, Snap describes such claims as taken out of context.

Despite the agreement with Snapchat, legal proceedings against other tech giants, including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, continue. They will face a consolidated lawsuit, with jury selection starting next Monday. Meta, in particular, anticipates testimony from CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Social networks are trying to defend themselves by citing the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing that the choice of algorithms is an editorial decision. If the court rules against them, it could lead to significant financial losses and the need to rethink product design worldwide.