Kaley Testifies About Lifelong Social‑Media Use in Los Angeles Bellwether Trial
Updated (2 articles)
Early Platform Exposure Described in Detail Kaley, a 20‑year‑old identified as KGM, took the stand on Feb. 27 2026 in a Los Angeles federal court, recounting daily YouTube use from age six and Instagram from age nine [1][2]. She explained that she created multiple accounts, purchased likes to boost popularity, and habitually applied appearance‑altering filters. Kaley said notifications produced a “rush,” prompting her to check them even during school bathroom breaks, and she struggled to set usage limits.
Family Abuse and Mental‑Health Context Highlighted During testimony, Kaley disclosed that her mother physically and emotionally abused her during sixth grade, a period when she self‑harmed [1][2]. She later qualified that she would not label the behavior as abuse today, yet acknowledged its impact on her emotional state. Kaley now lives with the same mother in Chico, California, and describes a childhood that also included typical activities such as themed birthday parties and trips to Six Flags.
Expert Witness Links Mood Swings to Platform Interaction Former therapist Victoria Burke testified that Kaley’s mood “could make or break” based on her online activity, noting a close relationship between platform use and self‑esteem [1][2]. Burke’s notes also cited bullying, school stress, and family problems as significant contributors to Kaley’s mental‑health volatility. The expert emphasized that Kaley never received a formal diagnosis of social‑media addiction.
Meta’s Defense Questions Diagnosis and Consistency Meta attorney Paul Schmidt argued that Kaley lacks a clinical addiction diagnosis and that pre‑existing family stressors explain her condition [1][2]. Schmidt pointed to Kaley’s 2025 deposition, which contains statements contradicting her trial testimony, and cross‑examiner Phyllis Jones highlighted those inconsistencies. Meta’s legal team maintains that the platforms did not substantially cause her depression or suicidal thoughts.
Bellwether Designation Signals Potential Nationwide Impact The case is one of three bellwether trials selected to shape the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits against tech firms [1][2]. TikTok and Snap have already settled comparable claims, while Meta also confronts a separate child‑exploitation trial in New Mexico. The verdict could set precedent for future litigation strategies and regulatory scrutiny of social‑media companies.
Sources
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1.
WBNS: Young Woman Testifies About Lifelong Social‑Media Use in Landmark Addiction Trial: provides an extensive personal narrative, showcases platform‑design evidence, and notes parallel legal pressure on Meta.
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2.
AP: Young Woman Testifies on Social Media Addiction in Los Angeles Trial: emphasizes cross‑examination of abuse claims, Meta’s defense tactics, and the broader litigation context.
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Timeline
2012 – Kaley begins uploading videos to YouTube at age six, launching the continuous platform exposure that later becomes central to her lawsuit [1][2].
2015 – Kaley creates an Instagram account at age nine, quickly opens multiple accounts and purchases likes to appear popular, establishing early habit‑forming behavior [1][2].
2019 – Former therapist Victoria Burke treats Kaley for six months and later testifies that Kaley’s sense of self and mood are “closely related” to her online activity, linking platform use to mental‑health volatility [1][2].
2025 – Kaley gives a deposition containing statements that later contradict her courtroom testimony; Meta’s attorneys cite these inconsistencies to challenge the addiction claim [1].
2025 – TikTok and Snap settle similar social‑media addiction lawsuits, creating a precedent that frames the Los Angeles case as a bellwether trial likely to affect thousands of pending actions [1][2].
2025 – Meta faces a separate child‑exploitation trial in New Mexico, adding regulatory pressure and highlighting broader legal challenges to the company’s platforms [2].
Feb 26, 2026 – In Los Angeles federal court, 20‑year‑old Kaley (KGM) testifies that “notifications gave her a ‘rush’” and that she checked them during school bathroom breaks, describing how Instagram filters and a 35‑foot banner of her posts reinforced compulsive use [1][2].
Feb 26, 2026 – Kaley recounts physical and emotional abuse by her mother during middle school and self‑harm in sixth grade, later qualifying the behavior as not “abuse” by today’s standards, providing context for the pre‑existing stressors cited by Meta’s defense [1].
Feb 26, 2026 – Meta attorney Paul Schmidt argues Kaley never received a clinical diagnosis of social‑media addiction and emphasizes her pre‑existing family and school stressors, while cross‑examiner Phyllis Jones highlights deposition‑testimony inconsistencies [1].
Feb 26, 2026 – Victoria Burke testifies that Kaley’s mood “could make or break” based on platform interaction, reinforcing the plaintiff’s claim that social‑media use directly affected her mental health despite other factors like bullying and school stress [1].
Feb 26, 2026 – The court designates the case as a bellwether trial, indicating that its verdict could shape the outcome of dozens of similar lawsuits nationwide against Meta and YouTube [1][2].