California Teen Testifies in Landmark Social‑Media Addiction Trial; Meta and YouTube Remain Defendants
Updated (2 articles)
Testimony Highlights Lifetime Social‑Media Immersion Twenty‑year‑old Kaley (identified as KGM) testified she began watching YouTube at age six and opened Instagram at nine, spending every waking hour on both platforms, creating multiple accounts, buying likes, and chasing push‑notification “rushes” that led to bathroom checks at school and an inability to set limits; she linked this constant exposure to body‑dysmorphia, anxiety, depression and self‑harm from age ten onward[1][2].
Trial Focus Narrows to Meta and Google‑Owned YouTube After TikTok and Snap reached undisclosed settlements shortly before the trial, the lawsuit now targets only Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube, with judges labeling the case a bellwether that could shape the outcome of thousands of similar consumer‑damage actions nationwide[1][2].
Defendants Argue Pre‑Existing Mental‑Health Problems Meta’s attorney Paul Schmidt argued that Kaley’s mental‑health challenges existed before she ever accessed Instagram or YouTube, framing the core question as whether the platforms were a “substantial factor” in her struggles; Meta also faces an unrelated child‑exploitation case in New Mexico[1].
Potential Nationwide Impact on Youth‑Online Liability The trial, expected to run until mid‑March, will be the first to define social‑media operators’ responsibility for minors’ addiction and could set legal precedent for a wave of lawsuits across the United States[2].
Sources
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1.
King5:Young Woman Testifies on Lifelong Social Media Use in Landmark Addiction Trial: Details Kaley’s childhood platform use, her mental‑health claims, the settlement of TikTok and Snap, and Meta’s defense that issues predated social media.
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2.
BBC:Woman sues Meta and Google, claims Instagram and YouTube addiction: Emphasizes the lawsuit’s focus on Meta and YouTube after other firms settled, outlines Kaley’s nonstop usage and mental‑health impacts, and notes the trial’s potential to set precedent for youth‑online liability.
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Timeline
2012 – Kaley begins watching YouTube at age six, marking her first exposure to an algorithm‑driven video platform that later becomes central to her addiction claim [1].
2015 – Kaley opens an Instagram account at age nine, accessing a photo‑sharing service without any age‑verification barriers, which she later cites as a formative part of her lifelong usage [1].
Early 2026 – Kaley files a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging that Instagram and YouTube caused her addiction, naming Meta and Google as defendants while TikTok and Snap reach undisclosed settlements before trial [1].
Feb 26, 2026 – The trial starts in Los Angeles federal court; Kaley testifies that she checks Instagram each morning, stays online all day, and experiences body‑dysmorphia, anxiety, depression, and self‑harm from age ten, all while undergoing therapy since thirteen [1].
Feb 27, 2026 – During her testimony, Kaley recounts buying likes, creating multiple accounts to self‑like, and feeling a “rush” from push notifications, and she acknowledges her mother’s physical and emotional abuse during her self‑harm period, describing her mother as “trying her best” [2].
Feb 2026 (earlier this month) – Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt argues that Kaley’s mental‑health issues predate her social‑media use, framing the core legal question as whether the platforms are a substantial factor in her struggles [2].
Mid‑March 2026 (expected) – The trial is slated to conclude, with the verdict set to become the first legal definition of social‑media operators’ liability for minors and to act as a bellwether for thousands of similar consumer‑damage lawsuits across the United States [1][2].
2026 (ongoing) – A separate child‑exploitation case proceeds against Meta in New Mexico, highlighting broader regulatory pressure on the company beyond the Instagram/YouTube addiction suit [2].