“IG is a drug”: US jury set to deliberate in landmark social media addiction trial against Meta and YouTube

instagram

• Jury to decide if social media caused mental health harm to KGM
• Meta and YouTube deny blame for KGM's mental health problems
• Trial outcome may impact future social media addiction lawsuits

Did our AI summary help?

A jury in Los Angeles is preparing to deliberate in one of the first trials examining whether social media platforms can be held responsible for addiction and mental health harm among young users.

The Guardian has reported that the case centers on a 20-year-old woman identified as KGM, who alleges that her early exposure to YouTube and Instagram contributed to depression, self-harm and long-term mental health struggles. Lawyers representing the plaintiff argue that the platforms were intentionally designed to capture and hold user attention.

During closing arguments in Los Angeles superior court, plaintiffs’ lawyer Mark Lanier said the growth of companies such as Meta and YouTube was driven by what he described as the “attention economy”. According to Lanier, the companies profit by capturing and maintaining user attention through platform design.

Testimony from tech leaders and experts

The six-week trial included testimony from several prominent technology leaders and company executives. Witnesses included Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and YouTube’s vice-president of engineering Cristos Goodrow.

Jurors also heard testimony from KGM, her therapist, whistleblowers and experts studying social media use and behavioral addiction.

KGM told the court she began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram at nine. She said that by age 10 she was experiencing depression and engaging in self-harm. According to her testimony, social media use contributed to strained family relationships and difficulties at school.

Her therapist later diagnosed her with body dysmorphic disorder and social phobia when she was 13. KGM has argued that exposure to social media platforms contributed to these issues.

What the jury must decide

For the plaintiff to win the case, jurors must determine that YouTube and Meta were negligent and that their platforms caused harm.

If jurors rule in favor of KGM, the companies could face financial penalties. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say such penalties could force social media platforms to change key features of their products.

Meta and YouTube deny the allegations. Both companies argue that their platforms are safe for most users and that KGM’s mental health challenges were linked to factors unrelated to social media.

The lawsuit is the first trial in a larger group of cases filed against major social media companies including Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snap.

More than 1,600 plaintiffs are involved in the broader litigation, including hundreds of families and school districts. Legal experts say the outcome of this case could influence how future courts evaluate claims about social media addiction and platform design.

Jury deliberations are expected to begin on Friday.