California Woman Claims Instagram, YouTube Harmed Her Childhood Mental Health in Meta Trial

A 20-year-old woman claims her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube led to severe mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. This trial could change how tech companies design products for young users.
By Newsroom | Technology, Law |

A 20-year-old California woman, Kaley G.M., is testifying in a significant trial against Meta and Google, alleging that her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube led to severe mental health issues. The case explores whether social media platforms, designed to be engaging, can cause addiction and harm to young users. Kaley claims her struggles with anxiety, depression, and body image began when she was a child and that her social media use exacerbated these problems. The companies, however, argue that other life factors contributed to her difficulties.

Background of the Case

The trial centers on claims that social media companies intentionally designed their products to foster addiction in young users. Kaley alleges that she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9, encountering no age restrictions. Her legal team contends that internal research within these companies showed potential harm to teen mental health, yet designs were created to function like a "behavioral hook." This is a landmark case because it could influence how tech companies develop products for children and their legal responsibility for the impact on young users.

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'I stopped engaging' due to Instagram, YouTube, woman tells landmark trial - 1

  • Plaintiff's Claim: Kaley G.M. alleges social media addiction began in childhood, leading to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia.

  • Defendants' Stance: Meta and Google deny these claims, pointing to family life and other environmental factors as primary causes of her struggles.

  • Key Platforms: Instagram and YouTube are central to the allegations.

  • Age of Initiation: Kaley began using these platforms at a very young age.

Plaintiff's Testimony: A Childhood of Digital Immersion

Kaley G.M. described her childhood as deeply intertwined with social media. She stated that her earliest feelings of anxiety and depression surfaced around ages nine and ten, coinciding with her heavy use of Instagram and YouTube.

  • She began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9.

  • Arguments with her mother often stemmed from her phone use and time spent online.

  • Her mother attempted to restrict her access, sometimes making her leave her phone in the living room at night, but Kaley would retrieve it to use it before morning.

  • She reported using filters on Instagram from a young age to alter her appearance, noting that most of her photos featured filters.

  • A former therapist, Victoria Burke, testified that Kaley used Instagram as an escape from school interactions that caused anxiety and that social media addiction could be a factor in her diagnoses.

Core Insight: Kaley's testimony links her earliest mental health challenges directly to her childhood social media use, emphasizing a feeling of being unable to control her engagement with these platforms.

'I stopped engaging' due to Instagram, YouTube, woman tells landmark trial - 2

Defense Arguments: External Factors and Parental Role

Meta and Google are presenting a defense that shifts focus away from their platforms and onto other influences in Kaley's life. They argue that her mental health struggles predate or are primarily caused by issues unrelated to social media.

  • Meta's lawyers contend that Kaley's mental health issues stem from problems with her family life.

  • They point to Kaley's medical records and family history, suggesting she faced serious challenges before using Instagram.

  • The companies assert that parents, schools, and other life factors play significant roles in young people's mental health.

  • Kaley's mother attempted to implement parental controls, but these were reportedly not enough to curb her usage.

Signal: The defense is building a case around "nature vs. nurture," implying that Kaley's inherent circumstances and upbringing, rather than platform design, are the root causes of her difficulties.

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'I stopped engaging' due to Instagram, YouTube, woman tells landmark trial - 3

Evidence of Intense Usage and Harm

Testimony and legal arguments have presented evidence suggesting extreme engagement with social media and its alleged impact on Kaley's well-being.

  • Kaley's lawyers claim court records show she spent 16 hours on Instagram on a single day.

  • She stated that she "wanted to be on it all the time" and was often unsuccessful when she tried to stop using the platforms.

  • Her legal team argues that as her screen time increased, her mental health declined, showing symptoms of depression, body dysmorphic disorder, and severe anxiety.

  • Kaley stated her life, health, sleep, and grades would have been better without social media.

  • She reported not experiencing negative feelings associated with body dysmorphia before using social media and filters.

"When she tried to stop using the platforms, she said she was often unsuccessful." - Independent.co.uk

Key Evidence: Documentation of extremely long usage times and Kaley's direct statements about her inability to disengage and the perceived negative consequences of social media use form the evidentiary backbone of her case.

'I stopped engaging' due to Instagram, YouTube, woman tells landmark trial - 4

Statements from individuals involved in the case offer varying viewpoints on the role of social media in Kaley's life.

  • Victoria Burke, Kaley's former therapist, testified that adolescent social media usage was a contributing factor to Kaley's mental health issues but not the sole cause.

  • Burke did not assess the average duration of Kaley's daily social media usage.

  • Kaley's lawyer, Mark Lanier, has been a vocal advocate, citing internal company data and describing the platforms' designs as "behavioral hooks."

  • Meta's lawyers have broadly argued that Kaley's struggles are not solely due to Instagram use but linked to family life issues.

  • While testifying, Kaley also expressed a surprising interest in becoming a social media manager, aiming to "capitalize on the skills she has built since a young age."

"Burke drew no conclusions as to whether social media had directly caused Kaley's adolescent struggles with fear of social rejection and peer judgment, or her worries over perceived flaws in her physical appearance." - Channelnewsasia.com

Nuance: While a therapist identified social media as a contributing factor, she stopped short of direct causation, leaving room for the defense to highlight other influences.

Conclusion and Future Implications

Kaley G.M.'s testimony in this landmark trial presents a detailed account of a childhood allegedly shaped by social media addiction, leading to significant mental health challenges. The defense maintains that other life circumstances are more directly responsible for her difficulties. The outcome of this case could have profound implications for the tech industry, potentially leading to stricter regulations on how platforms are designed and marketed to younger users.

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  • The trial is ongoing, with further testimony expected.

  • The legal teams are presenting a complex picture of childhood development, digital engagement, and corporate responsibility.

  • The case will likely examine the ethical obligations of technology companies regarding the well-being of their youngest users.

Sources Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is a 20-year-old woman suing Meta and Google in a California trial?
The woman, Kaley G.M., claims that her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube, starting at ages 6 and 9, caused her to become addicted and led to severe anxiety, depression, and body image issues.
Q: What are the main arguments from the woman suing Meta and Google?
Her lawyers argue that Meta and Google intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive for young users, causing harm. She states she spent up to 16 hours a day on Instagram and couldn't stop using it, which worsened her mental health.
Q: How are Meta and Google defending themselves in the trial?
Meta and Google deny the claims, arguing that the woman's mental health problems are due to other factors in her life, such as family issues and her environment, not solely their platforms.
Q: What did Kaley's former therapist say in court?
Her therapist, Victoria Burke, testified that social media use was a contributing factor to Kaley's mental health issues but not the only cause. She did not directly link social media to specific diagnoses like fear of social rejection or body image worries.
Q: What could be the future impact of this trial?
This case is considered landmark and could lead to stricter rules for how tech companies design and market products for children. It raises questions about corporate responsibility for the mental well-being of young users.