AP Spotlight TikTok settles as social media giants face landmark trial over youth addiction claims KAITLYN HUAMANI and BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writers Jan 27, 2026 Jan 27, 2026 Updated Mar 18, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save LOS ANGELES — TikTok agreed to settle a landmark social media addiction lawsuit just before the trial kicked off, the plaintiff’s attorneys confirmed.kAm%96 D@4:2= G:56@ A=2E7@C> H2D @?6 @7 E9C66 4@>A2?:6D — 2=@?8 H:E9 |6E2’D x?DE28C2> 2?5 v@@8=6’D *@F%F36 — 724:?8 4=2:>D E92E E96:C A=2E7@C>D 56=:36C2E6=J 255:4E 2?5 92C> 49:=5C6?] p 7@FCE9 4@>A2?J ?2>65 :? E96 =2HDF:E[ $?2A492E A2C6?E 4@>A2?J $?2A x?4][ D6EE=65 E96 42D6 =2DE H66< 7@C 2? F?5:D4=@D65 DF>]k^AmkAms6E2:=D @7 E96 D6EE=6>6?E H:E9 %:<%@< H6C6 ?@E 5:D4=@D65[ 2?5 E96 4@>A2?J 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am The icon for the TikTok video sharing app is seen on a smartphone in Marple Township, Pa., Feb. 28, 2023. 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Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps What we know about the quadruple amputee cornhole champ arrested for murder in Virginia With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Chilhowie reports on water quality, looks at system growth kAmy@D6A9 '2?+2?5E[ 4@\=625 4@F?D6= 7@C E96 A=2:?E:77[ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E %F6D52J E92E %:<%@< C6>2:?D 2 5676?52?E :? E96 @E96C A6CD@?2= :?;FCJ 42D6D[ 2?5 E92E E96 EC:2= H:== AC@4665 2D D4965F=65 282:?DE |6E2 2?5 *@F%F36]k^Am kAmyFCJ D6=64E:@? DE2CED E9:D H66< :? E96 {@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE] xEVD E96 7:CDE E:>6 E96 4@>A2?:6D H:== 2C8F6 E96:C 42D6 367@C6 2 ;FCJ[ 2?5 E96 @FE4@>6 4@F=5 92G6 AC@7@F?5 67764ED @? E96:C 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 9@H E96J H:== 92?5=6 49:=5C6? FD:?8 E96:C A=2E7@C>D] %96 D6=64E:@? AC@46DD :D 6IA64E65 E@ E2<6 2E =62DE 2 76H 52JD[ H:E9 fd A@E6?E:2= ;FC@CD BF6DE:@?65 6249 52J E9C@F89 2E =62DE %9FCD52J] p 7@FCE9 4@>A2?J ?2>65 :? E96 =2HDF:E[ $?2A492E A2C6?E 4@>A2?J $?2A x?4][ D6EE=65 E96 42D6 =2DE H66< 7@C 2? F?5:D4=@D65 DF>]k^Am kAm“%9:D H2D @?=J E96 7:CDE 42D6 — E96C6 2C6 9F?5C65D @7 A2C6?ED 2?5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED :? E96 D@4:2= >65:2 255:4E:@? EC:2=D E92E DE2CE E@52J[ 2?5 D25=J[ ?6H 72>:=:6D 6G6CJ 52J H9@ 2C6 DA62<:?8 @FE 2?5 3C:?8:?8 q:8 %649 E@ 4@FCE 7@C :ED 56=:36C2E6=J 92C>7F= AC@5F4ED[” D2:5 $2492 w2H@CE9[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 ?@?AC@7:E %649 ~G6CD:89E !C@;64E]k^Am Attendees visit the Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. Jeff Chiu, Associated Press kAmzv| 4=2:>D E92E 96C FD6 @7 D@4:2= >65:2 7C@> 2? 62C=J 286 255:4E65 96C E@ E96 E649?@=@8J 2?5 6I246C32E65 56AC6DD:@? 2?5 DF:4:52= E9@F89ED] x>A@CE2?E=J[ E96 =2HDF:E 4=2:>D E92E E9:D H2D 5@?6 E9C@F89 56=:36C2E6 56D:8? 49@:46D >256 3J 4@>A2?:6D E92E D@F89E E@ >2<6 E96:C A=2E7@C>D >@C6 255:4E:G6 E@ 49:=5C6? 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D:>:=2C:E:6D E@ E96 q:8 %@3244@ EC:2=D E92E =65 E@ 2 `hhg D6EE=6>6?E C6BF:C:?8 4:82C6EE6 4@>A2?:6D E@ A2J 3:==:@?D :? 962=E9 42C6 4@DED 2?5 C6DEC:4E >2C<6E:?8 E2C86E:?8 >:?@CD]k^Am kAm“!=2:?E:77D 2C6 ?@E >6C6=J E96 4@==2E6C2= 52>286 @7 s676?52?ED’ AC@5F4ED[” E96 =2HDF:E D2JD] “%96J 2C6 E96 5:C64E G:4E:>D @7 E96 :?E6?E:@?2= AC@5F4E 56D:8? 49@:46D >256 3J 6249 s676?52?E] %96J 2C6 E96 :?E6?565 E2C86ED @7 E96 92C>7F= 762EFC6D E92E AFD965 E96> :?E@ D6=7\56DECF4E:G6 7665324< =@@AD]”k^Am Young people use their phones to view social media in Sydney, Nov. 8, 2024. Rick Rycroft, Associated Press kAm%96 E649 4@>A2?:6D 5:DAFE6 E96 4=2:>D E92E E96:C AC@5F4ED 56=:36C2E6=J 92C> 49:=5C6?[ 4:E:?8 2 36GJ @7 D2768F2C5D E96J 92G6 25565 @G6C E96 J62CD 2?5 2C8F:?8 E92E E96J 2C6 ?@E =:23=6 7@C 4@?E6?E A@DE65 @? E96:C D:E6D 3J E9:C5 A2CE:6D]k^AmkAm“#646?E=J[ 2 ?F>36C @7 =2HDF:ED 92G6 2EE6>AE65 E@ A=246 E96 3=2>6 7@C E66? >6?E2= 962=E9 DECF88=6D DBF2C6=J @? 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E96 =2HDF:E 2?5 E92E :EVD “4@?7:56?E E96 6G:56?46 H:== D9@H @FC =@?8DE2?5:?8 4@>>:E>6?E E@ DFAA@CE:?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6]”k^AmkAmy@Dé r2DE2ñ652[ 2 v@@8=6 $A@<6DA6CD@?[ D2:5 |@?52J E92E E96 2==682E:@?D 282:?DE *@F%F36 2C6 “D:>A=J ?@E ECF6]” x? 2 DE2E6>6?E[ 96 D2:5 “!C@G:5:?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6 H:E9 2 D276C[ 962=E9:6C 6IA6C:6?46 92D 2=H2JD 366? 4@C6 E@ @FC H@C<]Qk^Am The YouTube app is displayed on an iPad in Baltimore on March 20, 2018. Patrick Semansky, Associated Press kAm%:<%@< 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E |@?52J]k^Am kAm%96 42D6 H:== 36 E96 7:CDE :? 2 D=6H @7 42D6D 368:??:?8 E9:D J62C E92E D66< E@ 9@=5 D@4:2= >65:2 4@>A2?:6D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 92C>:?8 49:=5C6?VD >6?E2= H6==\36:?8] p 7656C2= 36==H6E96C EC:2= 368:??:?8 :? yF?6 :? ~2<=2?5[ r2=:7@C?:2[ H:== 36 E96 7:CDE E@ C6AC6D6?E D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED E92E 92G6 DF65 D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C>D @G6C 92C>D E@ 49:=5C6?]k^Am kAmx? 255:E:@?[ >@C6 E92? c_ DE2E6 2EE@C?6JD 86?6C2= 92G6 7:=65 =2HDF:ED 282:?DE |6E2[ 4=2:>:?8 :E :D 92C>:?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6 2?5 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ E96 J@FE9 >6?E2= 962=E9 4C:D:D 3J 56=:36C2E6=J 56D:8?:?8 762EFC6D @? x?DE28C2> 2?5 u2463@@< E92E 255:4E 49:=5C6? E@ :ED A=2E7@C>D] %96 >2;@C:EJ @7 42D6D 7:=65 E96:C =2HDF:ED :? 7656C2= 4@FCE[ 3FE D@>6 DF65 :? E96:C C6DA64E:G6 DE2E6D]k^Am kAm%:<%@< 2=D@ 7246D D:>:=2C =2HDF:ED :? >@C6 E92? 2 5@K6? DE2E6D]k^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmx? }6H |6I:4@[ >62?H9:=6[ ;FCJ D6=64E:@? 368:?D ?6IE H66< 7@C EC:2= @? 2==682E:@?D E92E |6E2 2?5 :ED D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C>D 92G6 72:=65 E@ AC@E64E J@F?8 FD6CD 7C@> D6IF2= 6IA=@:E2E:@?[ 7@==@H:?8 2? F?56C4@G6C @?=:?6 :?G6DE:82E:@?] pEE@C?6J v6?6C2= #2ú= %@CC6K :? =2E6 a_ab DF65 |6E2 2?5 +F4<6C36C8[ H9@ H2D =2E6C 5C@AA65 7C@> E96 DF:E]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm!C@D64FE@CD 92G6 D2:5 E92E }6H |6I:4@ :D ?@E D66<:?8 E@ 9@=5 |6E2 244@F?E23=6 7@C :ED 4@?E6?E 3FE C2E96C :ED C@=6 :? AFD9:?8 @FE E92E 4@?E6?E E9C@F89 4@>A=6I 2=8@C:E9>D E92E AC@=:76C2E6 >2E6C:2= E92E 42? 36 92C>7F=[ D2J:?8 E96J F?4@G6C65 :?E6C?2= 5@4F>6?ED :? H9:49 |6E2 6>A=@J66D 6DE:>2E6 23@FE `__[___ 49:=5C6? 6G6CJ 52J 2C6 DF3;64E65 E@ D6IF2= 92C2DD>6?E @? E96 4@>A2?J’D A=2E7@C>D]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm|6E2 92D D2:5 :E FD6D D@A9:DE:42E65 E649?@=@8J[ 9:C6D 49:=5 D276EJ 6IA6CED[ C6A@CED 4@?E6?E E@ E96 }2E:@?2= r6?E6C 7@C |:DD:?8 2?5 tIA=@:E65 r9:=5C6?[ 2?5 D92C6D :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 E@@=D H:E9 @E96C 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[ :?4=F5:?8 DE2E6 2EE@C?6JD 86?6C2=[ E@ 96=A C@@E @FE AC652E@CD]k^DA2?mk^Am Wellness An app's blunt life check adds another layer to the loneliness crisis in China TED ANTHONY and FU TING Associated Press Technology Social media addiction's surprising challenger? Anti-doomscrolling influencers KAITLYN HUAMANI AP Technology Writer Business TikTok finalizes deal to form new American entity KAITLYN HUAMANI Associated Press Ortutay reported from Oakland, California. Associated Press Writer Morgan Lee in Albuquerque, New Mexico contributed to this story. 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin to lead Homeland Security as TSA standoff deepens The Senate voted late Monday to confirm Markwayne Mullin as the new secretary of Homeland Security. Trump says he'll sign order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal Senators are reviewing a "last and final" Republican offer to end the funding impasse that disrupted travel. New Mexico jury says Meta harms children's mental health and safety, violating state law Jurors sided with state prosecutors who argued that Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — prioritized profits over safety. Israel is rapidly killing Iran's top leaders. Experts warn the strategy could backfire Israel has killed a string of senior Iranian leaders in airstrikes, aiming to weaken or topple the Islamic Republic. But past targeted killing… Trump's mixed messages on Iran: 'Winding down' the war but adding more troops Trump also lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil, relieving some of the pressure that Washington traditionally used as leverage against Tehran. Watch Now: Related Video US claims 'strong signs' for deal with Iran US jury finds Meta and Google liable in social media addiction trial US jury finds Meta and Google liable in social media addiction trial Parents demand reforms after verdict in social media addiction trial Parents demand reforms after verdict in social media addiction trial Trump promises 'bigger majorities' for GOP even as midterm warning signs flash for his party AP Trump promises 'bigger majorities' for GOP even as midterm warning signs flash for his party
Wellness An app's blunt life check adds another layer to the loneliness crisis in China TED ANTHONY and FU TING Associated Press
Technology Social media addiction's surprising challenger? Anti-doomscrolling influencers KAITLYN HUAMANI AP Technology Writer
Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin to lead Homeland Security as TSA standoff deepens The Senate voted late Monday to confirm Markwayne Mullin as the new secretary of Homeland Security.
Trump says he'll sign order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal Senators are reviewing a "last and final" Republican offer to end the funding impasse that disrupted travel.
New Mexico jury says Meta harms children's mental health and safety, violating state law Jurors sided with state prosecutors who argued that Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — prioritized profits over safety.
Israel is rapidly killing Iran's top leaders. Experts warn the strategy could backfire Israel has killed a string of senior Iranian leaders in airstrikes, aiming to weaken or topple the Islamic Republic. But past targeted killing…
Trump's mixed messages on Iran: 'Winding down' the war but adding more troops Trump also lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil, relieving some of the pressure that Washington traditionally used as leverage against Tehran.
