TikTok settles with US teen plaintiff ahead of trial

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TikTok has settled a ‌lawsuit brought by a boy who claimed the ‌platform damaged his mental health. -EPA

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.