Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Enters New Phase as Expert Testifies
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, a significant civil lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court has advanced to a new stage, focusing on the alleged negative impacts of social media on young people. Victoria Bourke, a licensed therapist, testified as an expert witness in the trial that is investigating the potential culpability of major technology firms for creating platforms accused of contributing to a widespread mental health crisis among youth.
Bourke was called by attorneys representing the plaintiff, identified in court only as Kayley G.M., to establish the context for the next phase of the trial. This phase will delve into how Kayley’s engagement with social media during her childhood may have affected her well-being.
This case is part of a broader global backlash against social media companies regarding alleged harms to children and adolescents. Australia has already banned the use of such platforms for individuals under 16, and other nations are considering similar restrictions. Technology companies, however, dispute these claims, stating that users must be at least 13 years old to register.
Bourke, who worked as a trainee therapist at a school, provided therapy to the then 13-year-old Kayley for several months in 2019. She informed the jury that she initially diagnosed Kayley with generalized anxiety disorder, later changing the diagnosis to social phobia and body dysmorphia disorder.
While Bourke did not definitively conclude that social media directly caused Kayley’s teenage struggles with the fear of social rejection, peer judgment, or concerns about perceived physical flaws, she stated in her testimony that she believes Kayley’s social media experience was a “contributing factor” to her psychological issues. The plaintiff’s lawsuit asserts that Kayley began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine, and alleges that these platforms played a role in the onset of mental health disorders, including depression and body dysmorphic disorder.
Her legal representatives contend that their client is a victim of intentional design and business models that sought to profit by luring young children to ad-supported online services, despite awareness of the risks to their mental health.
The trial’s commencement focused on what companies knew regarding the effects of social media on children and their business strategies concerning younger users. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified that the company had discussed child-focused products but never launched them.
According to Reuters, for the plaintiff to prevail in this lawsuit, her attorneys must demonstrate that the way companies designed or operated their platforms was a significant factor in causing or exacerbating her mental health problems.
