"The now 20-year-old, who has been identified in court documents as KGM, says her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap have settled."
"The case, along with two others, has been selected as a bellwether trial, meaning its outcome could impact how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies are likely to play out."
"Both the defendants and the plaintiff have pointed to a turbulent home life for Kaley. Her attorneys say she was preyed upon as a vulnerable user, but attorneys representing Meta and Google-owned YouTube have argued Kaley turned to their platforms as a coping mechanism or a means of escaping her mental health struggles."
A 20-year-old plaintiff identified as KGM testified about her experience growing up on social media platforms, claiming her early and extensive use created addiction and exacerbated mental health issues including depression and suicidal thoughts. She began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9, spending significant time on these platforms daily. The case against Meta and YouTube is one of three selected as a bellwether trial, meaning its outcome will likely influence thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies. TikTok and Snap have already settled their cases. During testimony, the plaintiff discussed her childhood in California, including both positive memories and a challenging relationship with her mother, which both sides have referenced in their arguments about her vulnerability and mental health struggles.
#social-media-addiction #mental-health-litigation #bellwether-trial #youth-social-media-use #meta-and-youtube-lawsuit
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