Landmark Social Media Trial Begins Over Teen's Mental Health

Lawyers argue Instagram and YouTube intentionally created addictive features that harmed a 20-year-old woman's mental health.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a landmark trial, a 20-year-old woman and her mother have accused Meta (Facebook's parent company) and YouTube of intentionally creating addictive features on their platforms that caused the woman to develop anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts. The trial is the first of hundreds of similar cases against social media companies to go to trial. Lawyers for the plaintiff argue the apps' 'endless scroll' and 'like' features are designed to be addictive, while the tech companies deny the claims and say the woman's difficult family life was the root cause of her mental health struggles.

Why it matters

This trial is a crucial moment of accountability for social media companies, as parents and safety advocates have long called for more online guardrails to protect young users. The outcome could set a precedent for how around 1,500 similar lawsuits against tech firms are resolved, potentially costing them billions in damages and forcing platform changes.

The details

The plaintiff, identified as Kaley or KGM, began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at 9. Her lawyers argue the platforms' addictive features, including 'infinite scroll' and 'like' buttons, caused her to develop mental health issues like anxiety and body dysmorphia. Meta and YouTube deny the claims, with YouTube's lawyer arguing Kaley's usage data does not show addiction. The tech companies also point to Kaley's difficult upbringing, including verbal abuse from her parents, as the root cause of her struggles.

  • The trial began on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • Kaley began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9.

The players

Kaley

A 20-year-old woman who is the plaintiff in the lawsuit against Meta and YouTube, alleging their platforms' addictive features harmed her mental health.

Mark Lanier

The lawyer representing Kaley and her mother in the lawsuit.

Meta

The parent company of Instagram, which is a defendant in the lawsuit.

YouTube

The video-sharing platform, which was added as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Paul Schmidt

The lawyer representing Meta in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“This case is about two of the richest corporations who have engineered addiction in children's brains. The swipe, for a child, like Kaley, this motion is a handle of a slot machine. But every time she swipes, it's not for money, but for mental stimulation.”

— Mark Lanier, Kaley's Lawyer

“Let me get right to the point: Ms. GM, Kaley GM, is not addicted to YouTube.”

— Luis Li, YouTube's Lawyer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Kaley out on bail.

The takeaway

This landmark trial highlights the growing concerns about the mental health impacts of social media on young users, and could set a precedent for how hundreds of similar lawsuits against tech companies are resolved, potentially leading to significant changes in how these platforms operate.