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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Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond NC Gov. Stein kicks off rural listening tour in McDowell County, visits Marion business US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children Special event in Asheville to support WNC farmers, food hubs Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities 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? E@ 3@@DE AC@7:ED] %9:D 2C8F>6?E[ :7 DF446DD7F=[ 4@F=5 D:56DE6A E96 4@>A2?:6DV u:CDE p>6?5>6?E D9:6=5 2?5 $64E:@? ab_[ H9:49 AC@E64ED E649 4@>A2?:6D 7C@> =:23:=:EJ 7@C >2E6C:2= A@DE65 @? E96:C A=2E7@C>D]k^Am kAm“q@CC@H:?8 962G:=J 7C@> E96 3692G:@C2= 2?5 ?6FC@3:@=@8:42= E649?:BF6D FD65 3J D=@E >249:?6D 2?5 6IA=@:E65 3J E96 4:82C6EE6 :?5FDECJ[ s676?52?ED 56=:36C2E6=J 6>365565 :? E96:C AC@5F4ED 2? 2CC2J @7 56D:8? 762EFC6D 2:>65 2E >2I:>:K:?8 J@FE9 6?8286>6?E E@ 5C:G6 25G6CE:D:?8 C6G6?F6[” E96 =2HDF:E D2JD]k^Am kAmtI64FE:G6D[ :?4=F5:?8 |6E2 rt~ |2C< +F4<6C36C8[ 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ E6DE:7J 2E E96 EC:2=[ H9:49 :D =:<6=J E@ =2DE D:I E@ 6:89E H66<D] tIA6CED 92G6 5C2H? 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 Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts 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 @? D@4:2= >65:2 4@>A2?:6D[” |6E2 D2:5 :? 2 C646?E 3=@8 A@DE] QqFE E9:D @G6CD:>A=:7:6D 2 D6C:@FD :DDF6] r=:?:4:2?D 2?5 C6D62C496CD 7:?5 E92E >6?E2= 962=E9 :D 2 566A=J 4@>A=6I 2?5 >F=E:7246E65 :DDF6[ 2?5 EC6?5D C682C5:?8 E66?DV H6==\36:?8 2C6?VE 4=62C\4FE @C F?:G6CD2=] }2CC@H:?8 E96 492==6?86D 72465 3J E66?D E@ 2 D:?8=6 724E@C :8?@C6D E96 D4:6?E:7:4 C6D62C49 2?5 E96 >2?J DEC6DD@CD :>A24E:?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@52J[ =:<6 24256>:4 AC6DDFC6[ D49@@= D276EJ[ D@4:@\64@?@>:4 492==6?86D 2?5 DF3DE2?46 23FD6]Qk^Am kAmp |6E2 DA@<6DA6CD@? D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E |@?52J E96 4@>A2?J DEC@?8=J 5:D28C66D H:E9 E96 2==682E:@?D @FE=:?65 :? 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 Health 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 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! 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Health 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
Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral videos The Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit filed by seven Ohio sheriff's deputies who sued him over music videos in which he…
Trump says former president had an Iran confession. Predecessors deny recent contact Trump says a former president told him he wishes he had attacked Iran while in office. Aides to all four living former presidents deny any rec…
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Iran strikes Gulf refineries; drivers see gas prices jump | Hot off the Wire podcast 🎧 Get the latest national, international and sports news on our daily podcast.
Lawmakers struggle to make headway on Homeland Security funding Transportation and Security Administration officials warn delays at airports could worsen as screeners working without pay call out or quit.
