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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What it means for next season Report: Iowa native Cyclone Aili Tanke planning on entering transfer portal Former five-star prospect departs Iowa women's basketball program after freshman season Former Miss Iowa Basketball, Hawkeye sophomore announces entrance to transfer portal Freshman Freya Jensen changes mind on transfer portal, returning to Iowa State Trump says he has 'no problem' with Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against woman after she finally leaves facility 3 burning questions for Iowa State men’s basketball entering the offseason ‘Stay Low, Shoot High’: How Taylor McCabe trusted the process, transformed herself into the player Iowa needed Gas prices soar past $4 on average for a gallon of regular in the US, the highest since 2022 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 @? 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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 Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | 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? 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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 Related to this story Most Popular 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle A 12-year-old has been arrested in connection with the death of a classmate who was hit with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying i… A year after Trump's DOGE cuts, workers whose lives were upended question what was saved A year after federal employees were hit by the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency, it… Trump says he has 'no problem' with Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade "We have a tanker out there. We don't mind having somebody get a boatload because they need … they have to survive," Trump told reporters as h… Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against woman after she finally leaves facility A Florida hospital dropped its lawsuit seeking to evict a patient who refused to vacate a room for months after she was discharged because, th… Gas prices soar past $4 on average for a gallon of regular in the US, the highest since 2022 The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Downed US pilot trained to survive, evade, resist and escape: Analysis Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran AP Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran Bear cub rescued from roadside ditch along I‑78 in Union Township Bear cub rescued from roadside ditch along I‑78 in Union Township Apollo astronauts brought these items to the moon's surface AP Apollo astronauts brought these items to the moon's surface
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
12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle A 12-year-old has been arrested in connection with the death of a classmate who was hit with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying i…
A year after Trump's DOGE cuts, workers whose lives were upended question what was saved A year after federal employees were hit by the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency, it…
Trump says he has 'no problem' with Russian oil tanker bringing relief to Cuba despite blockade "We have a tanker out there. We don't mind having somebody get a boatload because they need … they have to survive," Trump told reporters as h…
Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against woman after she finally leaves facility A Florida hospital dropped its lawsuit seeking to evict a patient who refused to vacate a room for months after she was discharged because, th…
Gas prices soar past $4 on average for a gallon of regular in the US, the highest since 2022 The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran
AP Local affiliate of Iran state TV claims a US fighter pilot ejected from an aircraft in southwest Iran
