Daily Recap:
- TikTok, a secondary defendant, settled with plaintiff K.G.M., the first bellwether case in the social media addiction trials
- Jury selection (ongoing)
Talking Points:
- From the outset, the first bellwether case was primarily aimed at the reckless and dangerous product designs Google and Meta have pushed on children and teens across the country to get kids hooked and profit from compulsive social media habits.
- While we should all take note that Snap and TikTok settled to avoid this first round of scrutiny, they, too, will have their day in court. This is the first in thousands of cases with Snap and TikTok as defendants.
- This settlement should come as no surprise because the damning evidence that came to light last week was just the tip of the iceberg.
Look Ahead:
- Jury selection (ongoing)
Coverage:
- LA Times: Is social media harmful for kids? Meta and YouTube face trial after TikTok settles suit
- The Guardian: Tech giants head to landmark US trial over social media addiction claims
- Daily Caller: TikTok Dodges Trial In Landmark Social Media Addiction Case
Resources:
- Trial Backgrounder (Updated 1/27/26)
- Facts and Stats (1/27/26) Doc Download
- Message Guidance (1/27/26) Doc Download
- FAQ and Talking Points (1/27/26) Doc Download
- Meta’s Internal Research Microsite
- Social Media Toolkit (1/27/26) Doc Download
