A 15-year-old from Florida, identified as R.K.C., has officially dismissed his lawsuit against Meta. The teenager had previously alleged that using platforms like Instagram led to an addiction that negatively impacted his well-being, specifically citing issues like sleep loss and anxiety caused by features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling.
This development follows the plaintiff’s recent settlements with YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok regarding similar allegations. A representative for Meta stated that the company remains committed to contesting what it describes as unfounded legal claims, noting that the teenager received no financial compensation for withdrawing the case. Legal counsel for the plaintiff did not provide a statement.
This case was part of a larger wave of litigation in Los Angeles Superior Court involving thousands of claims against social media giants. While a prior jury trial resulted in Meta and YouTube being held liable for harming a young woman’s mental health—a verdict both companies are currently appealing—the litigation process continues with further trials scheduled for this coming October.
