Trials & Litigation
Plaintiff testifies about habit in trial towards social media firms
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives Feb. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles for a landmark trial over whether or not social media platforms intentionally addict and hurt kids. (Picture by Ryan Solar/The Related Press)
The lead plaintiff in a high-profile trial towards social media firms informed jurors in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday that her habit to Instagram and YouTube led to her despair and body-image points.
The testimony of the only real plaintiff, known as “Ok.G.M.,” comes within the first-ever trial towards Meta Platforms Inc.—which operates Instagram, and YouTube—owned by Google. Ok.G.M., now age 20, testified remotely, in keeping with a story by the Recorder.
Ok.G.M. testified that her habit to social media resulted in her giving up her hobbies and pursuits and prevented her from making associates.
“It actually affected how I noticed myself,” she testified, in keeping with the Recorder. “It made me depressed.”
When her lawyer, W. Mark Lanier of the Lanier Legislation Agency in Houston, requested why she continued to remain on social media, Ok.G.M. mentioned “it’s too arduous to be with out it.”
The trial is a part of a consolidated continuing in California state courts. Two different defendants, TikTok—owned by ByteDance, and Snap Inc.—which operates Snapchat, settled previous to trial, in keeping with the Recorder.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, have testified within the trial, in keeping with the story.
See additionally:
On witness stand, YouTube VP says his kids watch 5 to 6 hours daily on platforms
Jurors will remain anonymous in first social media addiction trial
Google and Meta social media mental health trial set to start as jury selected
Parents say teens are addicted to social media. Now, a jury will decide
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.