Kaylee started using Instagram and YouTube at the age of eight or nine and soon found herself immersed in them during all her free time.
The young woman shared with the court that she spent time on the apps every day, starting in the morning and ending late at night. She noted that this led to a withdrawal from interests and the development of anxiety, depression, and a negative perception of her body.
During the proceedings, Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, defended the company's policies, including the use of filters that alter appearance. He stated that the platform strives to find a balance between potentially harmful content and freedom of expression. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, also testified, noting that he does not believe it is possible to talk about "social media addiction" in the traditional sense.
The jury ultimately sided with Kaylee, acknowledging that the design features of the platforms, such as the endless feed, negatively impacted her mental health.
This case has become the first of many similar lawsuits in the U.S. that have reached court and could set a precedent for future cases. Meta has already expressed disagreement with the verdict and plans to appeal it.
