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TikTok settles with US teen plaintiff ahead of trial

Staff WritersReuters
TikTok has settled a ?lawsuit brought by a boy who claimed the ?platform damaged his mental health. (EPA PHOTO)
Camera IconTikTok has settled a ?lawsuit brought by a boy who claimed the ?platform damaged his mental health. (EPA PHOTO) Credit: AAP

TikTok has settled a lawsuit brought by a US teenager who claimed the platform damaged his mental health.

The settlement was reached in principle but the details have not yet been finalised, according to a spokesperson for Morgan & Morgan, which is representing the plaintiff.

The agreement on Tuesday comes ahead of what is expected to be the second trial in California state court over social media's role in the youth mental health crisis.

The lawsuit, brought by a 15-year-old boy known as R.K.C., named four defendants - Google's YouTube, Meta's Instagram, Snap Inc's Snapchat and ByteDance's TikTok.

YouTube settled in June, while Instagram and Snapchat remain scheduled for trial in July.

R.K.C., who is from Florida, said he started using social media when he was about eight, according to court filings. He became addicted to it, losing sleep and suffering from depression and anxiety, according to the filings.

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