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Defense Pushes Back on Plaintiff’s Addiction Narrative in Landmark Social Media Trial

A former therapist testified that multiple factors, not just YouTube and Instagram, contributed to the young woman’s mental health struggles.
Defense Pushes Back on Plaintiff’s Addiction Narrative in Landmark Social Media Trial
The icons of various social media apps in a file photo. Yui Mok/PA Wire
Beige Luciano-Adams
Beige Luciano-Adams
3/10/2026|Updated: 3/10/2026
0:00

LOS ANGELES—A jury in a bellwether social media addiction trial in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 9 heard from a former therapist who testified, via recorded deposition, that it was not social media use alone, but rather a volatile mix of circumstances and triggers that led to a young plaintiff’s mental health challenges.

The plaintiff, a 20-year-old California woman identified in court documents as “Kaley G.M.” or “K.G.M.” says she suffered depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and other harms after becoming addicted to YouTube and Instagram while in elementary school.

Beige Luciano-Adams
Beige Luciano-Adams
Author
Beige Luciano-Adams is an investigative reporter covering Los Angeles and statewide issues in California. She has covered politics, arts, culture, and social issues for a variety of outlets, including LA Weekly and MediaNews Group publications. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X: https://twitter.com/LucianoBeige
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