Jurors on Thursday heard from the 20-year-old plaintiff in the landmark social media addiction trial taking place here in Los Angeles. Kaylee’s testimony began with photos of what she described as a happy childhood. Her attorney showed pictures of her with her parents, at birthday parties, and horseback riding, but the focus soon shifted to social media.
Kaylee testified she started watching YouTube at just 6 years old. By age 8, she had created her own account, entering a random age in her profile. She posted videos and closely tracked likes and subscribers.
She told jurors she had about 10 YouTube accounts and posted more than 100 videos by the time she was 10. She said she even created additional accounts and asked family members to create accounts to boost her likes, comments, and subscribers.
She also testified that around that same time, she had about 15 Instagram accounts. She said she used outside apps where she would like other people’s photos and in return receive more likes on her main account. -- 📺 Watch NTD News 24/7 on cable, broadcast, and streaming: https://www.ntd.com/watch
Jurors today heard directly from the plaintiff in the social media addiction trial in Los Angeles.
The 20-year-old testified how her social media use affected her depression and mental health.
NTD's Christina Corona tells us more from the courthouse.
We're outside the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse where today jurors heard from the 20-year-old
plaintiff Kaylee G.M. and her testimony started off by her attorney showing pictures from her
childhood such as photos from her previous birthday parties, pictures with her parents,
but the testimony quickly shifted to her social media use.
Kaylee testified she started watching YouTube just 6 years old. By the age of 8,
she had created her own account, entering a random age in her profile.
She posted videos and closely tracked likes and subscribers.
She told jurors she had about 10 YouTube accounts and posted more than 100 videos
by the time she was 10. She said she even created additional accounts and asked family
members to create accounts to boost her likes, comments, and subscribers.
She also testified that around that same time she had about 15 Instagram accounts.
She said she used outside apps where she would like other people's photos and in
return receive more likes on her main account. When asked whether she became addicted,
Kaylee testified she would sneak onto her phone in the middle of the night
and at school to constantly check likes, comments, and followers.
She told jurors,
Whenever I got a bunch of likes, I was really happy, and when I didn't,
I felt insecure, like I looked ugly. It messed with my self-worth.
She testified that even when she was bullied online, she continued using the apps
because being off social media felt worse than the bullying.
Kaylee also said that when her mom took her phone away, she became anxious and depressed,
and at times threatened to harm herself, telling jurors,
I wanted it back because I felt like a huge part of me was missing.
She also testified that from a young age she frequently used beauty filters and at
point had edited almost all of her photos. She told jurors she relied on filters to
feel better about herself and has since been diagnosed with body dysmorphia.
Kaylee is expected to testify through Thursday afternoon and possibly into Friday.
The YouTube CEO is expected to testify sometime next week.
Reporting from downtown Los Angeles, Christina Corona, NTV News.
