Plaintiff testifies social media apps harmed her 'self-worth'

K.G.M., 20, is the first person to take big tech companies to trial over claims that social media platforms' addictive designs damaged her mental health.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In a highly-anticipated testimony, the plaintiff in a landmark social media addiction trial said using apps like Instagram and YouTube when she was a child fueled her depression and anxiety, leading her to withdraw from her family. K.G.M., now 20 years old, detailed how her almost nonstop use of social media 'really affected my self-worth' and caused her to compare herself to others, give up hobbies, and struggle to make friends.

Why it matters

K.G.M.'s trial is the first in a consolidated group of cases brought against Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snap by over 1,600 plaintiffs, including families and school districts, who accuse the tech companies of knowingly designing addictive products harmful to young users' mental health. The verdict could set a legal precedent on whether social media platforms are liable for mental health issues in children.

The details

K.G.M. said she created her Instagram account at age 9, before the app asked new users to enter their birthdays, and lied about her age to create a YouTube account. She said being without her phone often sent her 'into a panic' and that she would get 'a rush' from social media notifications, leading her to compulsively check them. K.G.M. also said she now struggles with body dysmorphia after being exposed to social media filters.

  • K.G.M. created her Instagram account at age 9.
  • Meta introduced beauty filters to Instagram stories in 2017.
  • Meta significantly expanded its slate of augmented reality filters in 2019.

The players

K.G.M.

The 20-year-old plaintiff in the landmark social media addiction trial, who testified that using apps like Instagram and YouTube as a child fueled her depression and anxiety.

Meta

The company that owns Instagram and Facebook, which has denied that its apps are purposefully harmful and addictive for young users.

Google

The company that owns YouTube, which has also denied that its platform is designed to maximize time spent.

Victoria Burke

K.G.M.'s therapist when she was 13, who testified that she believes social media was a contributing factor, but not the sole driver, of K.G.M.'s mental health issues.

Adam Mosseri

The head of Instagram, who testified that it's important to differentiate between clinical addiction and problematic use of social media.

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What they’re saying

“They made me give up a lot of hobbies and old interests, and they prevented me from making friends ... [and] caused me to compare myself to other people.”

— K.G.M., Plaintiff (nbcnews.com)

“Without it, I felt like a huge part of me was missing. If I didn't have it, I would be missing out on something. I couldn't see who was liking my stuff.”

— K.G.M., Plaintiff (nbcnews.com)

“When I got a bunch of likes, I was really happy. If I didn't get a lot of likes, I would feel I shouldn't have posted it, I was ugly.”

— K.G.M., Plaintiff (nbcnews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow K.G.M. to continue the trial against the remaining tech companies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing concerns about the mental health impacts of social media platforms on young users, and could set a legal precedent on whether tech companies can be held liable for the addictive design of their products.