In a landmark lawsuit underway in Los Angeles, a California woman, Kaley GM, is testifying in court about the harmful effects of using Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Google’s YouTube on her mental health.
Starting to use Instagram at age 9 and YouTube at age 6, Kaley claims these platforms contributed to her depression and body dysmorphia.
Her lawyers argue that the companies deliberately profited from trapping young children on the platforms, despite evidence showing that addicted users have suffered serious harm, Reuters reported.
For the same reason, countries such as Australia have already banned these platforms for young users, while others are considering similar measures.
The initial stages of the trial were based on what Meta and YouTube knew about the impact of their platforms on young users, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledging discussions of products for children that never launched. Now, the focus has reportedly shifted to Kaley’s personal experiences and how these services impacted her life.
To succeed in her case, Kaley’s lawyers are required to demonstrate that the design and operation of these platforms contributed to her mental health problems.
Evidence presented to the jury included an internal Meta study indicating that teenagers facing challenging life circumstances often reported habitual use of Instagram.
Autoplay videos and endless scrolling are the notable features highlighted by Kaley’s lawyer, which are said to encourage excessive use. YouTube’s legal team pointed out that Kaley did not use available protection features.
The outcome of the case is likely to have serious consequences for social media regulation and child safety.
