Plaintiff Testifies About Social Media Addiction Since Childhood

20-year-old Kaley G.M. says she was unable to control her use of YouTube and Instagram as a child, leading to mental health issues.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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In a high-profile trial in Los Angeles, 20-year-old Kaley G.M. took the stand and testified about her struggles with social media addiction starting at age 6. Kaley described being unable to control her use of YouTube and Instagram, which she says exacerbated her mental health issues like depression and self-harm. The landmark trial will determine whether social media giants Meta and Google knowingly designed addictive platforms that harmed young users like Kaley.

Why it matters

This case is the first of three trials expected to set a precedent for thousands of lawsuits blaming social media for fueling an epidemic of mental health issues among young people. The outcome could have major implications for how social media platforms are designed and regulated in the future.

The details

Kaley testified that as a child, she would spend all her time on YouTube and Instagram, and would become very upset if denied access to the apps. She described scenes of her mother trying to limit her social media use, only for Kaley to sneak the phone back at night. Kaley said her heavy use of filters on Instagram from a young age was an attempt to change her appearance. She also said her life, health, sleep, and grades would have been better without social media.

  • Kaley's social media addiction began when she was 6 years old.
  • Kaley's mother pushed her into therapy around age 12, where Kaley said she couldn't engage with her family due to 'excessive worrying because of social media'.
  • The landmark trial is expected to last until late March 2026.

The players

Kaley G.M.

A 20-year-old California resident who is the plaintiff in the trial, testifying about her struggles with social media addiction since childhood.

Meta

The parent company of Instagram, which is accused of knowingly designing addictive platforms that harmed young users.

Google

The parent company of YouTube, which is also accused of knowingly designing addictive platforms that harmed young users.

Mark Lanier

Kaley's lawyer, who is seeking to portray her as an emotionally fragile user who was ensnared by social media as a child.

Mark Zuckerberg

The CEO of Meta, who took the stand last week and pushed back against accusations that his company did too little to keep underage users off its platform.

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What they’re saying

“I was at a young age and I would spend all my time on it. Anytime I tried to separate myself from it, it just didn't work.”

— Kaley G.M., Plaintiff (breitbart.com)

“If I was off, I would just feel like I was missing out.”

— Kaley G.M., Plaintiff (breitbart.com)

“I'm very nervous.”

— Kaley G.M., Plaintiff (breitbart.com)

What’s next

The jury will decide in late March 2026 whether Meta and Google knowingly designed addictive apps that harmed Kaley's mental health.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing concerns about the mental health impacts of social media addiction, especially among young users. The outcome could set a precedent for how social media platforms are designed and regulated in the future to protect vulnerable users.