US teen drops Meta lawsuit on social media addiction days before trial A 15-year-old Florida boy who had sued Meta for allegedly causing his depression and anxiety through social media addiction withdrew his case against the company just days before a trial was set to begin in Los Angeles. His attorneys announced the decision on Wednesday, marking a significant development in a series of high-profile lawsuits against major tech companies over claims their platforms harm children. The case, brought by the boy known as RKC, originally named four defendants: YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. YouTube and TikTok had already settled in June, while Snapchat reached a tentative agreement in May, though the terms of those settlements remain confidential. RKC, who began using social media at age eight, alleged that his prolonged engagement with platforms like Instagram led to sleep deprivation, depression, and anxiety. His legal team stated that the decision to drop the case was influenced by the overall success of the litigation and concerns about the lengthy trial process. “He’s ready to close this chapter and focus on his recovery and engage in therapy as he aspires to have a normal life,” the attorneys said. Meta’s spokesperson confirmed the withdrawal, noting that RKC had not received any payment for dropping the claims. The company emphasized that the allegations “never held up” and reiterated its stance that it would not retreat from defending itself against what it called “baseless lawsuits.” The case follows a landmark ruling in March when a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages to a young woman who claimed the companies designed addictive products and failed to warn users about potential harms.#instagram #youtube #meta #snapchat #rkc
