California Woman Testifies in Landmark Trial Against Meta and Google Over Social Media Addiction
A 20-year-old California woman has provided testimony in a landmark trial against Meta Platforms and Google, as reported by the news agency Reuters. The woman, identified in court as Kaley G.M., informed jurors that she developed an addiction to YouTube at the age of 6 and Instagram at the age of 9.
Testimony Details Mental Health Impact of Social Media Use
In her testimony, Kaley claimed that her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube significantly harmed her mental health. She stated that the platforms made her feel anxious, depressed, and insecure about her appearance. The case is being heard in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawsuit alleges that Meta and Google designed their platforms in ways that encouraged young users to stay online for longer periods to increase profits.
Kaley told the court that her heavy use of social media negatively affected her school performance, sleep patterns, and relationships with family and friends. She explained that she depended on social media for validation and connection, despite experiencing online bullying.
She testified that when her mother took away her phone, she felt panic and anger. "It's too hard to be without it," she said in court, adding that being offline made her feel like she was missing something important.
Kaley also revealed that by the age of 10, she began harming herself as a way to cope with depression. She told jurors she had suicidal thoughts but never attempted to take her own life.
Meta and Google Deny Allegations in the Trial
Google and Meta have denied the allegations presented in the trial. They argued that the evidence does not support the claims and emphasized that the platforms include tools to protect users, such as comment controls and time limits.
The trial has also examined what the companies knew about the impact of social media on children. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified last week that the company discussed products for children but did not launch them.
