“He still a kid,” said Emily Jeffcott, an attorney representing R.K.C. “He is still in high school and evaluating the impact that social media has had on his very young life. I think that should really be a lens that’s worth paying attention to.”
TikTok has reached a preliminary settlement with a Florida teenager who sued the company and several other social media platforms over claims that their practices had harmed his mental health.
According to NBC News, the terms of the settlement are still being finalized.
The lawsuit, though, was originally filed on behalf of a 15-year-old Florida boy, identified in court documents by the initials R.K.C. Related claims were filed against TikTok, Meta, YouTube, and Snap. Attorneys for R.K.C. said that each of these companies deliberately designed their services to be as addictive as possible, relying on mechanisms like the so-called “infinite scroll” and auto-play videos.
“He still a kid,” said Emily Jeffcott, an attorney representing R.K.C. “He is still in high school and evaluating the impact that social media has had on his very young life. I think that should really be a lens that’s worth paying attention to.”
YouTube settled with R.K.C. last week, while Meta and Snap have continued to defend themselves. Both of the remaining defendants are expected to proceed to a jury trial at the end of July.
Earlier this year, in March, a 20-year-old identified as “K.G.M.” secured a $6 million verdict against Meta and YouTube. In her case, both companies were found liable for negligence in the design or operation of their social media platforms. Attorneys for K.G.M. argued that their client used social media throughout her childhood, negatively affecting her self-worth and either leading to or contributing to feelings of body dysmorphia, anxiety, and depression.
R.K.C.’s legal team emphasized that, though K.G.M.’s trial was something of a bellwether, their claim is unique in its own ways.
“The impacts on a male and on somebody who’s a minor currently involve different circumstances and things for the jury to evaluate,” said Rahul Ravipudi, another lawyer representing R.K.C.
Jeffcott noted that R.K.C. has been active on social media since he was eight years old. He has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, which he and his attorneys attribute to long-term social media use.
The state of Florida is also litigating a separate but related claim against TikTok.
In a June press conference, Florida Attorney General James Uthemeier, a Republican, said that TikTok regularly and knowingly exposes children to age-inappropriate content, keeping them engaged through the use of deceptive and borderline malicious algorithms.
“It’s designed to keep kids stuck on those screens for hours,” he said. “Our evidence suggests that so many kids are on TikTok for upwards of six, seven, eight, or more hours a day. We are going to get our kids their lives back.”
Sources
Florida lawsuit accuses TikTok of violating state’s child social media ban
TikTok reaches settlement with Florida teen ahead of July social media addiction trial
TikTok to settle with teen plaintiff before California social media trial, law firm says
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