Buffalo, New York: TikTok Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Buffalo Families. If You or Your Child Has Sustained Physical Injuries Due to Social Media Addiction, You Deserve Aggressive Representation and an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

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TikTok has reached a last-minute settlement in a social media addiction lawsuit that could have far-reaching consequences.

The lawsuit, filed in a California-based federal court alongside hundreds of similar cases, claimed that TikTok and other technology companies designed products they knew would capture and hold children’s attention. Many of the plaintiffs involved in proceedings described how they would become dependent on social media at an early age, developing conditions like depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia as a result.

Before an agreement was reached, TikTok and its co-defendants were poised to take the case before a judge and jury. Attorneys for the 20-year-old woman behind the lawsuit, identified in court documents by the initials “K.G.M.,” said the case would likely have been among the first social media addiction-related claims to go to trial. The details of the settlement have not been publicly released and are expected to remain confidential.

Hundreds of other cases are continuing to accumulate against companies like TikTok, Snap, Meta, and YouTube. At least a dozen of these cases are expected to make their way to trial sometime in 2026. They all differ in their details, but most argue that social media platforms are often built in a way that is inherently harmful to users, particularly children. Features like infinite scroll and personalized recommendations, for instance, can raise content engagement, but experts believe that they could also introduce or exacerbate serious mental health conditions, potentially culminating in self-harm, suicide, or death.

For years, social media companies have hidden behind legal provisions that were created long before the internet and smartphones became a part of everyday life. Although K.G.M.’s lawsuit was settled and did not set any sort of binding precedent, it, at the very least, indicates that the tide is turning and that multibillion-dollar platforms may not be able to skirt the law when their own algorithms could be to blame.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to social media addiction, you could also be entitled to file your own personal injury lawsuit. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades fighting for the rights of Buffalo families. We know what it takes to build a compelling case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it. Call us today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a Buffalo social media addiction lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

The TikTok Lawsuit And Settlement

TikTok is still facing hundreds of other social media addiction lawsuits, but K.G.M.’s settlement could represent a turning point.

K.G.M. first filed her lawsuit against TikTok in 2023. At the time, her attorneys said that their 20-year-old client had become addicted to social media as a child. K.G.M. was eight years old when she created a YouTube account and 10 when she signed up for TikTok. She also used other social media platforms, including Meta-owned Instagram.

If the case had gone to trial, K.G.M.’s lawyers were planning to use documents uncovered during discovery to establish that technology companies like TikTok have long known that their products and practices are dangerous. The lawsuit provided a multitude of examples, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. The use of “beauty” filters on Instagram and Snapchat could cause body dysmorphia;
2. Internal communications indicating that YouTube executives actively sought to “compel users to come back more and more often” by making the app more “addictive”; and
3. Highly personalized algorithms that can cause or contribute to compulsive social media use.

TikTok, along with the other tech companies litigating similar claims, initially planned to cite Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 as a defense. Under Section 230, a longstanding bulwark for the industry, social media websites cannot be held liable for any injury or damages arising from user-published content. K.G.M.’s lawsuit sought to overcome this incredibly strong defense by reallocating blame. In other words, K.G.M. argued that companies like TikTok do not just tolerate questionable content; they knowingly introduce harm through inescapable design choices.

TikTok, Social Media, And Kids’ Mental Health

Social media companies are no strangers to controversy, but growing public awareness has led researchers and health officials to take an even closer look at the many ways in which digital platforms can affect children’s mental health.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, for instance, recently issued an advisory on social media.

According to the Surgeon General’s Office, a significant and growing body of evidence suggests that increased social media use correlates with decreased levels of confidence and self-esteem. Social media addiction is also believed to cause or contribute to:

1. Cyberbullying;
2. Sexual abuse;
3. Feelings of depression or worthlessness;
4. Lower reported feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence; and
5. The development of serious mental health conditions.

Mental health conditions can have a profound and deleterious impact on anyone, but children often face increased risks. Even with treatment, a condition like depression or anxiety disorder can make it more difficult for kids to make friends, succeed in school, and feel comfortable in their own bodies. Some children may even attempt to self-harm or, in a worst-case scenario, commit suicide.

If your child has sustained serious injuries as the direct result of social media addiction, your family could be entitled to significant compensation. K.G.M.’s lawsuit may not have set a precedent, but TikTok’s decision to settle shows that technology companies no longer have the same confidence in provisions like Section 230 that they once did. You could have more options than you expect.

Since founding the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005, Jed Dietrich, Esq., has helped his clients in and around Buffalo recover more than $300 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us today at 716-839-3939 to speak to a social media addiction lawyer in Buffalo and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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