'I was on Instagram all day' - woman tells landmark trial

Source: BBC Technology

Overview

A young woman, known as KGM or Kaley to protect her privacy, is suing Meta and Google over what she claims is the addictive nature of social media. In a Los Angeles courtroom, she testified that her childhood was dominated by Instagram and YouTube, leading to severe mental‑health issues.

Background

• Early use of platforms

  • Began using YouTube at age 6.
  • Started Instagram at age 9, with no age‑verification barriers.

• Legal context

  • The trial, expected to run until mid‑March, will be the first ruling on the responsibility social‑media operators have for their youngest users.
  • TikTok and Snapchat were originally defendants but settled before the trial began; settlement terms were not disclosed.

Kaley’s Testimony

• Daily routine

  • Instagram was “the first thing” she did upon waking and she continued using it “all day” until bedtime.
  • YouTube’s autoplay feature kept her watching for hours.

• Impact on mental health

  • Lack of “likes” left her feeling “insecure” or “ugly.”
  • Diagnosed with body dysmorphia; she reported no such feelings before using social media.
  • First symptoms of anxiety and depression appeared at ages 9‑10; diagnosed as a teenager.
  • Began self‑harm at age 10 and has been seeing a therapist since age 13.

• Family dynamics

  • Described a difficult relationship with her mother during her younger years, largely tied to her iPhone and online time.
  • Stated that she and her mother are now close.

Meta’s Defense

Meta argues that Kaley’s mental‑health struggles stem from family issues rather than Instagram use. Lead lawyer Paul Schmidt highlighted statements Kaley made before filing the lawsuit about her home life, including a strained relationship with her mother that led to self‑harm thoughts.

Google’s Role

YouTube is also a defendant in the lawsuit, with Kaley citing the platform’s autoplay feature as a factor that kept her engaged for extended periods.

Notable Court Appearances

• Kaley’s testimony followed a week in which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared before a jury for the first time, spending around seven hours being questioned by lawyers.
  • Zuckerberg’s questioning

Visuals

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References

• Meta’s claim that Kaley’s Instagram use is “not an addiction.”
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn71mgmzljlo

• First day of trial coverage.
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wlpqpe2z4o