Twenty-year-old testifies at US trial about harm from social media addiction

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Dara KerrFebruary 25, 2026 at 11:32 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A 20-year-old woman, identified as KGM, is testifying in a Los Angeles trial against Meta (Instagram and Facebook) and YouTube, alleging that their platforms' addictive designs caused her mental health issues. KGM claims she became addicted to social media before age 10, leading to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. This trial marks the first time a jury will hear testimony on the alleged harmful effects of social media addiction on children. KGM's case is the first of over 20 "bellwether" trials in a larger lawsuit involving over 1,600 plaintiffs, including families and school districts. TikTok and Snap previously settled with the plaintiffs. Meta and YouTube deny any wrongdoing, asserting they prioritize young users' safety and well-being.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

NBC News 30% Heat Initiative 30% José Castañeda 40% Lennon Torres ×240% TikTok 50% Snap 50% Facebook 60% Instagram 60% Los Angeles ×270% Meta ×280% YouTube ×280% KGM ×690%

Keywords

social media addiction 100% mental health issues 80% lawsuit 70% children 60% addictive design 60% trial 50% youtube 50% meta 50% online safety 40% body dysmorphia 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

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The Guardian - World News

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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