The Issue of "Social Media and Children" That Doesn't End Even with Reconciliation: What the U.S. Lawsuit Asks of Japan

Just before the opening statements, Snapchat also moves towards settlement

"Let me check one more time before going to bed"

Thinking this, I opened my smartphone, only to find myself staring at it for many minutes. Adults might have experienced this too. But if the same thing happens to children, affecting their sleep, school life, and mental health, who should bear responsibility and to what extent?

Ongoing social media-related lawsuits in the United States are directing this question towards the very design of the apps.

According to a report by AFP published on November 2, 2026, in BUSINESS-PANORAMA, Snapchat's parent company Snap settled a lawsuit with two young women who claimed harm from social media addiction. Opening statements were scheduled two days later in a Los Angeles court. The settlement amount and detailed conditions have not been disclosed.

Meta also reached a settlement with the plaintiffs involved in this trial by October 30. Related reports indicate that TikTok and YouTube had already settled, and the agreement with Snap, which was the last remaining, concluded the trial without moving to opening statements.

However, this agreement does not end all social media-related lawsuits in the United States. Many similar claims remain.

The question was not only about the content but also about the "mechanism that encourages continued use"

The plaintiffs argued that Snapchat was designed to encourage addictive use, leading to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other issues.

What is noteworthy here is that the issue is not just about whether harmful posts were seen.

When thinking about social media safety, it's easy to imagine bullying, dangerous videos, or contact from strangers. However, these lawsuits also question features that make users want to return to the app repeatedly and designs that make it difficult to take breaks.

Snapchat's "Streaks" can provide clues to understanding this mechanism.

According to the official explanation, friends exchange photos or videos (Snaps) daily, and these continuous exchanges are recorded. Reminders can be set to notify users when a Streak is about to end.

Such features can serve as opportunities to enjoy interactions with friends. On the other hand, one can imagine situations where users feel, "I don't want to send anything today, but I don't want to break the record," or "I should reply because it would be rude not to."

Of course, it cannot be concluded that this feature alone causes illness in specific individuals. Nonetheless, examining whether the efforts to facilitate interaction become pressure that makes it difficult to take breaks is meaningful.

What kind of design exists between "using because you want to" and "finding it hard to leave even though you want to stop"? This news draws attention to that aspect.

Settlement is not a "judgment admitting responsibility"

When reading reports, it's necessary to distinguish between the plaintiffs' claims and the facts recognized by the court.

The fact that Snap settled this time does not immediately lead to the conclusion that "they admitted to a design causing addiction" or "a causal relationship with mental harm was proven." From the disclosed information alone, it is unclear whether the agreement includes acknowledgment of responsibility or specific design changes.

According to the original article, the plaintiffs' attorney evaluated that justice was achieved for their clients. Meanwhile, Snap welcomed the amicable resolution of the issue.

In explanations related to the report, Snap stated that it has introduced safety measures and support for parents, countering the plaintiffs' portrayal of the platform. It's important to consider the company's perspective alongside the plaintiffs' claims.

Additionally, in a separate lawsuit mentioned in the original article from March 2026, a jury ordered Meta and Google to pay a total of $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff.

This is a separate case from the current settlement. It is not accurate to lump together different plaintiffs, evidence, and procedures to conclude that "all dangers of social media have been confirmed."

On social media, dissatisfaction with "paying to end it" and expectations for improvement

How do users perceive such lawsuits?

To clarify, the reactions introduced here are not directly related to the November 2 announcement. They are Reddit posts regarding a separate settlement by Snap in January 2026 and a related settlement by Meta in August of the same year. These are individual opinions and not surveys representing overall public opinion.

In the "r/technology" thread discussing Snap's January settlement, there were posts expressing dissatisfaction that companies seem to be evading accountability by paying money. Another poster questioned whether the settlement avoided rigorous scrutiny.

These do not confirm the actual intentions of the companies. Rather, they indicate that when conditions are not fully visible, it is easy for distrust to arise about whether society will have the opportunity to know what happened.

On the other hand, in the "r/UXDesign" thread discussing Meta's related settlement in August, there were posts welcoming it as a significant advance for design that prioritizes people and society. There is hope that lawsuits and settlements will become opportunities to change how services are created.

The same thread also contained skeptical voices questioning whether restrictions would be ineffective if they could be easily lifted.

While welcoming and criticizing seem to be in opposition, they share a common interest.

Not just "has it been settled," but "how will the user experience change afterward?" The amount of money and company statements alone cannot answer this question.

To avoid explaining mental health issues solely through social media

In discussions about social media, the more criticism towards companies intensifies, the more complex health issues tend to be simplified.

The American Psychological Association's recommendations published in 2023 explain that social media use is not inherently beneficial or harmful to young people. The impact varies depending on the individual's psychological characteristics, living environment, the content they encounter, and the features they use.

For some, connecting with friends can alleviate isolation, while for others, comparisons with others can be distressing. Even with the same service, the experience differs depending on who uses it, what they use, and under what circumstances.

The same recommendations also mention the limitations of research that can determine causality and long-term studies.

Therefore, even if someone uses social media for long periods and simultaneously experiences distress, it cannot be said that social media was the sole cause. It is necessary to consider experiences at home and school, pre-existing health conditions, and more.

However, the complexity of causes does not justify neglecting the examination of design risks.

It is essential to maintain a perspective that neither blames everything on social media nor dismisses it as unrelated to the companies because it's the individual's problem.

In Japanese households, discussions can go beyond "how many hours?"

This news concerns a lawsuit in the United States, but the experience of losing track of when to stop using an app is familiar in Japan as well.

In households, smartphone usage time is the easiest topic to discuss. It can be confirmed with numbers, and rules are easy to create. However, there are things that time alone cannot reveal.

For example, even on days of long use, the experience differs if one ends the day satisfied after having fun conversations with friends versus repeatedly checking reactions out of anxiety.

Therefore, in addition to usage time, the following points could be discussed.

• Are you reopening your phone due to notifications after deciding to go to bed?
• Do you feel that your friendships might deteriorate if your replies are delayed?
• After viewing posts, are you excessively critical of your appearance or lifestyle?
• Can you rest assured when you want to take a break?

This is not a checklist for diagnosing illness. It is an entry point to think together with the individual about what is burdensome.

Before saying "stop using it," ask "what makes it hard to close?" Knowing whether it's notifications, continuous records, or concern for friends makes the discussion more specific.

As a household strategy, consider turning off unnecessary notifications, setting a place for the phone before bed, and sharing times when replies are not required. If adults also participate in the same rules, it prevents placing the burden solely on those being managed.

What companies need is an explanation beyond "there are safety features"

Household strategies are helpful. However, they alone cannot change the structure of apps.

The frequency of notifications, methods of recording interactions, prompts to the next content, and default settings are determined by the service providers.

If companies have safety features, the next question is whether those features are easy to find, understand, and actually lead to a reduction in burden.

Even if there is a settings screen for parents, if it is too complex to use, its effectiveness is limited. If there is a prompt to take a break, but strong inducements to reuse follow immediately, users may be confused.

When measuring the value of a service, it should be possible to have a perspective that includes not only time spent and revisit frequency but also whether users can end their use when they wish.

This is not about eliminating the fun of social media. It is about making it easier to return to sleep, study, work, and time with people in front of you after enjoying it.

Is there freedom to close the screen beyond the settlement?

This settlement became a resolution for the plaintiffs. However, from the disclosed information, it is unclear what specifically will change.

Therefore, in future reports, attention should be paid not only to the next lawsuits and settlement amounts. It is also important to see how notification and continued use mechanisms are reviewed and how their effectiveness is verified.

Social media can be a place to meet friends, expand hobbies, and support lonely times. To maintain that value, designs that do not make continuous use the norm are needed.

When considering this issue in Japan, we do not want to stop the discussion at "children should endure" or "parents should manage."

Only when it is both enjoyable to use and easy to leave with peace of mind does it become a service that can be trusted for a long time in daily life.

Sources and References

1. BUSINESS-PANORAMA/AFP (November 2, 2026)
   Details about Snap's settlement, the plaintiffs' claims, parties' comments, and past separate judgments.
   https://business-panorama.de/news.php?newsid=6716662

2. Daily Journal (November 2, 2026)
   Confirmation of the circumstances where Snap became the last company to settle in this trial, concluding before opening statements. dailyjournal.com
   https://www.dailyjournal.com/article/395815-snap-is-4th-company-to-settle-social-media-claims-in-bellwether-case

3. ABC7 Los Angeles (October 30, 2026)
   Situation after Meta's settlement, functions questioned by plaintiffs, and Snap's rebuttal. ABC7 Los Angeles
   https://abc7.com/post/meta-settles-with-second-teen-social-media-addiction-lawsuit-case-against-snapchat-moves-forward/20001636/

4. Snapchat Official Support
   About the mechanism of Streaks and the reminder function when the deadline approaches. Snapchat Support
   https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-gb/articles/7012394193684-How-do-Streaks-work-and-when-do-they-expire
   https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/22461595709716-How-do-I-set-reminders-for-my-Streaks

5. American Psychological Association (APA, 2023)
   About individual and environmental differences in the impact of social media, and the limitations of research on causality and long-term effects. apa.org
   https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use

6. Reddit "r/technology" (Reactions to related reports in January 2026)
   Individual opinions on Snap's past separate settlement, monetary resolution, and opportunities for scrutiny. Not reactions to the November settlement. reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1qiz5d9/snap_settles_social_media_addiction_lawsuit_ahead/

7. Reddit "r/UXDesign" (Reactions to related reports in August 2026)
   Expectations for design improvements and questions about the effectiveness of restrictions regarding Meta's separate settlement. Content is referenced as individual opinions. reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/UXDesign/comments/1vyxlpx/meta_to_pay_up_to_171_billion_in_landmark/