Meta, Google Pivot in Addiction Trial to Accuser's History (1)

"Kaley has faced profound challenges, and we continue to recognize all she has endured. The jury's only task, however, is to decide if those struggles would have existed without Instagram. The evidence simply doesn't support reducing a lifetime of hardship to a single factor, and our case will continue to underscore that reality."

"Meta and Google have denied Kaley's claims, saying she was never formally diagnosed with social media addiction. They've also argued that their platforms are well-equipped with safety guardrails to protect young users."

"The trial is a critical test for thousands of similar cases with potentially billions of dollars at stake, and which could ultimately force media companies to change how they interact with youths, one of their key audiences."

In a landmark Los Angeles trial, Meta and Google are defending against allegations that their platforms caused a 20-year-old woman's mental health struggles including anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. Meta's legal team plans to call the woman's therapists to demonstrate her psychological trauma stemmed from family and school difficulties rather than Instagram use. Google argues her YouTube usage averaged only 30 minutes daily, insufficient to constitute addiction. Both companies deny formal social media addiction diagnoses and assert their platforms include adequate safety protections for young users. The case carries significant implications for thousands of similar lawsuits with billions of dollars at stake and potential regulatory changes affecting how media companies engage with youth audiences.

Read at Bloomberglaw