20-year-old plaintiff says Instagram, and YouTube’s design hooked her as child
A landmark trial opened Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court that could reshape how courts hold social media platforms accountable for their effects on users under 18. The case targets Meta Platforms Inc.’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube, alleging the companies designed their platforms to be addictive and harmful to children and teens.
A 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley G.M. filed the lawsuit, alleging that Instagram and YouTube intentionally used design features that encouraged prolonged and compulsive use beginning when she was a child. She claims that years of repeated exposure to those features contributed to serious mental health struggles later in life, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
“These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose,” G.M. said.
The complaint argues the companies chose features such as endless scrolling and autoplay to keep users engaged for profit. Lawyers for the plaintiff say these choices resemble tactics used in other addiction cases and intentionally targeted vulnerable young audiences.
TikTok and Snap Inc.’s Snapchat were originally named as defendants alongside Meta and Google. Court records show both companies reached undisclosed settlements with the plaintiff before the case went to trial. The settlements reduced the number of defendants but left the central claims about addictive platform design unchanged. As a result, Meta and Google are now the only companies defending the lawsuit before a jury.
With TikTok and Snapchat no longer involved, Meta and Google remain the sole defendants in the case. The outcome could shape how future plaintiffs structure similar lawsuits and influence whether other companies choose settlement over trial. Legal experts say the verdict may also affect how technology companies design products for younger users. With TikTok and Snapchat no longer involved, Meta and Google remain the sole defendants in the case. The outcome could shape how future plaintiffs structure similar lawsuits and influence whether other companies choose settlement over trial.
This is going to be the first time a jury is going to hear arguments about what the social media companies knew about the risks of the design of their platforms and how they acted on the types of information they had,” said Haley Hinkle, a policy counsel for Fairplay, which works to promote safer digital spaces for children.
Beyond Kaley G.M.’s case in state court, Meta and Google also face thousands of similar lawsuits nationwide. Parents, school districts, and state attorneys general have filed more than 2,300 related claims in federal court. The lawsuits accuse social media platforms of harming young users. A federal judge is now reviewing whether existing liability protections apply. That decision will help determine when the first federal trial begins, possibly as early as June.
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date: 2026-02-09 22:45:00