Florida teen withdraws lawsuit against Meta days before trial

A Florida teenager identified only by his initials, R.K.C., dismissed his lawsuit against Meta on Wednesday, just before a jury was to be selected in Los Angeles Superior Court. The case, filed in 2023, claimed that Meta’s platform design led to sleep deprivation, suicidal thoughts and other mental-health issues. R.K.C. had previously settled similar claims against YouTube, TikTok and Snap, leaving Meta as the sole defendant.

Meta said the plaintiff withdrew the suit without receiving any payment. > "The claims never held up, and this outcome makes clear that we will not back away from defending ourselves against baseless lawsuits," spokesperson Liza Crenshaw said.

The plaintiff’s attorneys said the decision was driven by the teenager’s desire to avoid a lengthy trial and focus on recovery. > "In light of the overall successful result of the litigation and his concerns about enduring a grueling week-long trial, he has elected to withdraw his claims against Meta. He’s ready to close this chapter and focus on his recovery and engage in therapy as he aspires to have a normal life," they said.

The withdrawal follows other recent rulings and settlements involving Meta and other social-media firms, including a $375 million judgment in New Mexico for failing to protect children from sexual predators and a settlement with a Kentucky school district over addiction claims. Trials continue in other states, such as a case brought by Tennessee’s attorney general alleging deliberate harm to young users' mental health.