Snap settles teens’ claims during jury selection

Snap Inc. agreed to settle claims brought by two teenagers during jury selection in a Los Angeles trial over alleged social media addiction and mental-health harms, plaintiffs’ attorneys said Monday. The agreement ended the planned trial against the company, whose Snapchat platform was accused of contributing to the teens’ injuries. The terms were not disclosed. The teenagers, identified in court documents as S.J. and K.D.B., alleged that Snapchat’s design encouraged compulsive use and contributed to depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Snap disputes the allegations. They were not tested in a public trial, and the settlement does not establish that the company caused the harms alleged. The case was part of broader litigation claiming that social media companies designed features to keep young users engaged. Jury selection had begun the previous week. Snap’s chief executive, Evan Spiegel, had been expected to testify if the trial proceeded. The plaintiffs’ lawyers said the two teenagers had already resolved claims against TikTok and YouTube. Their claims against Meta had also been resolved before Snap’s settlement, according to reports on the case. Snap was therefore the...