Google settles lawsuit over YouTube's addictive design

Google agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a 16‑year‑old boy from Florida who said YouTube’s autoplay and infinite‑scroll features harmed his mental health. The teenager began using the platform at age eight, developed depression and anxiety, and alleged the design kept him awake and isolated from family. Settlement terms were not disclosed. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the case was resolved amicably, while psychologist Lotte Rubæk warned that such design elements prioritize engagement over safety. The case follows prior litigation that forced Google and Meta to pay nearly $3 million to a young woman and settlements with a Kentucky school district totaling about $27 million for youth mental‑health services.

The settlement adds to a growing wave of legal actions targeting social‑media platforms for allegedly engineered addiction, prompting calls for stricter age‑appropriate safeguards.