A California girl blames Instagram and YouTube's design for worsening her mental health, in a high-profile trial over social media’s impact on youth.

A California woman, Kaley G.M., is testifying in a Los Angeles trial alleging that Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube worsened her mental health, including depression and body dysmorphia, after she began using the platforms at ages 6 and 9. Her lawyers argue the companies designed addictive features—like autoplay and endless scrolling—knowingly exploiting young users, particularly those with difficult life experiences. The trial examines whether these design choices were a substantial factor in her struggles, amid growing global scrutiny of social media’s impact on youth. Meta and YouTube deny wrongdoing, citing Kaley’s history of trauma and limited platform usage, while the case is part of a broader legal movement involving over 1,600 plaintiffs.