Reuters·2026-02-25 11:07Core Viewpoint - A California woman is testifying against Meta Platforms and YouTube, claiming that their platforms contributed to her mental health issues, including depression and body dysmorphia, stemming from her early use of these social media services [2][3]. Group 1: Plaintiff's Claims - The plaintiff, known as Kaley G.M., began using Instagram at age 9 and YouTube at age 6, alleging that these platforms were designed to hook young users despite known mental health risks [2][3]. - Her lawyers argue that features like autoplay videos and endless scrolling were intentionally designed to keep users engaged longer, which they claim exacerbated mental health issues among younger users [6]. - An internal study by Meta indicated that teens with difficult life circumstances reported more habitual or unintentional use of Instagram, supporting the plaintiff's claims [5]. Group 2: Legal Context and Defense - The trial is part of a larger global backlash against social media companies regarding their impact on children and teens, with some countries implementing restrictions on young users [3]. - To win the case, the plaintiff's lawyers must demonstrate that the companies' design and operation of their platforms significantly contributed to her mental health issues [4]. - YouTube's defense argues that the plaintiff did not utilize available features meant to protect users from bullying, such as comment deletion and time management tools [7].