.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Article content
Meta Platforms Inc. reached an agreement to settle a landmark lawsuit alleging that addiction to Instagram and other top social media platforms upended learning across America and pushed United States public schools to spend enormous resources fighting a mental health crisis, according to a court filing.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
Meta was the sole remaining defendant in a trial scheduled for June after Snap Inc., Google’s YouTube and TikTok settled a week earlier. The terms of Meta’s settlement were not disclosed in Thursday’s filing, but a spate of additional lawsuits brought by school districts could open the tech companies to a “collective theoretical liability of almost US$400 billion,” according to an estimate from Bloomberg Intelligence.
Article content
Article content
Article content
In a statement, plaintiffs’ attorneys Lexi Hazam, Previn Warren, Chris Seeger and Ronald Johnson confirmed they had resolved Breathitt County School District’s claims against Meta, as well as its claims against Snap, TikTok and YouTube. “Our focus remains on pursuing justice for the remaining 1,200 school districts who have filed cases,” the attorneys said in a joint statement.
Article content
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
A Meta spokesperson said, “we’ve resolved this case amicably and remain focused on our longstanding work to build protections like Teen Accounts that help teens stay safe online, while giving parents simple controls to support their families.”
Article content
It’s been a busy year for tech companies embroiled in child safety litigation. Meta and Google went to trial in a first-of-its-kind personal injury suit over youth social media addiction in January in Los Angeles. A jury found the companies liable for harming a 20-year-old woman with products designed to keep her hooked, awarding a total of US$6 million in damages. TikTok and Snap, also named in the suit, settled just ahead of that trial.
Article content
In March, Meta lost a separate case in New Mexico alleging the company failed to protect children from online predators; jurors assessed a penalty of US$375 million.
Article content
Article content
Thursday’s settlement means that Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri and other top executives will no longer have to testify in the trial, which was set to begin June 12 in federal court in Oakland, California. But another case against Meta brought by dozens of state attorneys general is slated to begin in August, and a defeat for the company could force it to change how its products operate.
Article content
Article content
Meta and its rivals have downplayed the financial impact of the lawsuits and cultural backlash over child safety on their platforms. On Meta’s most recent earnings call with investors, Zuckerberg didn’t address the topic; chief financial officer Susan Li, in prepared remarks, said only that “we continue to see scrutiny on youth-related issues and have additional trials scheduled for this year in the U.S., which may ultimately result in a material loss.”
Article content
Article content
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Article content
English (US)