A 20-year-old woman, identified only by her initials KGM, has begun testifying in a landmark US trial against Meta and YouTube, alleging that their platforms are intentionally addictive and caused her mental health issues from childhood. KGM is the lead plaintiff in a consolidated lawsuit representing over 1,600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and 250 school districts, in Los Angeles Superior Court.
KGM claims she became addicted to social media before age 10, spending hours daily scrolling through photos and videos, leading to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. Her mother tried to block her use of the apps but failed, according to court documents. The lawsuit argues that the platforms' “addictive design” and “constant notifications” drove her compulsive use.
This is the first of more than 20 “bellwether” trials designed to gauge jury reactions and set legal precedent. TikTok and Snap originally named as defendants settled before the trial began, with terms undisclosed. Meta and YouTube deny wrongdoing; Meta argues that KGM faced significant challenges before using social media, while YouTube says the allegations are “simply not true”.
KGM’s former therapist, Victoria Burke, testified that she diagnosed KGM at age 13 with body dysmorphic disorder and social phobia, noting that social media was a contributing factor but not the sole cause. Jurors will also hear from KGM’s mother and sister. The trial has already seen testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and YouTube engineering vice-president Cristos Goodrow.
