A California woman suing Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Google’s YouTube testified Thursday that her childhood social media use left her anxious, depressed, and insecure about her appearance, while simultaneously making it impossible to stay off her phone, reports Reuters.
Known in court as Kaley G.M., 20, she told jurors that she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9, and that her obsession disrupted her schooling, deprived her of sleep, stunted her in-person social life, and strained family relationships. She said her mental health deteriorated to the point of suicidal thoughts and self-harm beginning at age 10, though she never attempted to take her life.
The lawsuit is part of a growing global backlash against social media companies over alleged harms to children and teenagers. Australia has banned under-16s from platforms like Instagram and YouTube, while other nations are considering similar restrictions. Meta and Google have denied wrongdoing, arguing that the evidence does not support the claims.
Kaley described how her mother occasionally confiscated her cellphone, triggering fits of rage and heightened anxiety. “I can’t, it’s too hard to be without it,” she said under questioning in Los Angeles County Superior Court, emphasizing her dependence on social media for validation and connection despite frequent online bullying.
Asked why she felt a desperate need to retrieve her phone, she replied, “Without it, I felt a huge part of me was missing… I would be missing out on something, and it would send me into a panic.” She said that being offline bothered her more than negative comments or insults encountered online.
The case, originally filed by Kaley’s mother before she turned 18, alleges that Meta and Google knowingly designed their platforms to hook young users, profiting from children’s engagement while being aware of the risks to their mental and behavioral health.
Kaley’s former psychotherapist, who treated her at ages 13 and 14, previously testified that excessive social media use contributed to her diagnoses of social phobia and body dysmorphic disorder. The trial, which began in late January, also examines what the companies knew about social media’s impact on children and their strategies targeting younger users. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has testified that the company discussed but never launched products specifically for children.
To succeed, Kaley’s lawyers must prove that the design or operation of the platforms was a substantial factor in causing or worsening her mental health struggles.
Court records show Kaley experienced verbal and physical abuse and a complicated relationship with her parents following their divorce when she was 3, Meta’s lawyers noted. On the stand, she said her mother could be abusive but was also nurturing and loving, and that they remain very close.
Kaley works as a personal shopper at Walmart and holds an associate degree in communications, with plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree and a career in social media.
Her attorneys cited an internal Meta study showing that teens with difficult home circumstances are more likely to use Instagram habitually or unintentionally. They allege that platform features, including endless scrolling, autoplay videos, “like” buttons, and beauty filters, were deliberately designed to keep users engaged, often harming self-image and mental health.
YouTube’s lawyers countered that Kaley did not use platform features intended to protect users, such as tools to delete comments or limit viewing time, according to court filings.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
