Snap settles Snapchat child-harm lawsuit before trial

Snap settled a Los Angeles bellwether case over allegations that Snapchat and other social media apps harmed young users, plaintiffs' lawyers said Monday, two days before opening statements were due to begin.

Snap, the maker of Snapchat, said it was "pleased to have been able to resolve this matter in an amicable manner."

The case had consolidated claims by plaintiffs identified only by the initials K.D.B. and S.J. Lawyers for the plaintiffs were expected to argue, according to court documents, that their clients were exposed to "addictive and problematic" social media apps after they began using them at ages 13 and 15.

Meta confirmed a settlement with K.D.B. on Friday after earlier settling with S.J. TikTok and YouTube had already reached settlements, leaving Snap as the sole remaining defendant before its agreement.

The trial would have been part of a series of bellwether cases expected to guide hundreds of similar lawsuits across the United States over alleged harms to children and teenagers from social media companies.