Florida teenager R.K.C. drops lawsuit against Meta over social media addiction claims just before Los Angeles jury trial
Florida teenager R.K.C. has dropped his lawsuit against Meta, avoiding a high-profile jury trial in Los Angeles that was scheduled to begin next week. The 15-year-old plaintiff sued the social media giant, along with TikTok, YouTube, and Snap, alleging that features like infinite scroll and autoplay created an addictive experience that led to sleep deprivation, anxiety, and depression. While R.K.C. reached settlement agreements with TikTok, YouTube, and Snap, he chose to withdraw his claims against Meta without receiving any payment. Meta officials defended the decision, stating that the plaintiff's claims "never held up" and that the company remains committed to defending itself against what it considers baseless lawsuits. The move provides a victory for Meta following a series of recent legal challenges. The company recently lost a landmark trial in Los Angeles where it was found liable for harming a young woman's mental health, and it was ordered to pay $375 million in New Mexico for misleading consumers about platform safety. R.K.C.'s attorneys stated the teenager is now ready to focus on his personal recovery and therapy.