California Woman Drags Meta, Google To Court Over Social Media Addiction, Body Dysmorphia

In a landmark legal battle currently unfolding in Los Angeles, a 20-year-old California woman (identified in court as K.G.M. or “Kaley”) is suing the world’s largest tech giants, claiming their platforms were intentionally designed to addict children and caused her severe mental health issues, including body dysmorphia.

The lawsuit argues that platforms like Instagram and YouTube used “digital casino” tactics such as the infinite scroll, autoplay, and beauty filters to hook Kaley when she was as young as six years old.

Kaley alleges that constant exposure to curated “perfect” bodies and beauty-altering filters led her to develop body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

Her legal team presented phone records showing that, as a teenager, she once spent over 16 hours on Instagram in a single day.

While she originally sued several companies, Snap (Snapchat) and TikTok settled out of court just before the trial began.

The case is now proceeding against Meta (Instagram) and Google (YouTube).

Lawyers for Meta and Google are pushing back, arguing that social media is not to blame. They suggest Kaley’s mental health struggles were actually caused by a “difficult family life” and pre-existing personal challenges.

They also maintain that they provide tools for parents to manage their children’s use and that the platforms often serve as positive, creative outlets.

This is a “bellwether” trial, meaning it is the first of its kind to go before a jury. The outcome will set a massive precedent for over 2,500 similar lawsuits filed by families and school districts across the U.S. who claim social media is a “defective product” that harms youth.