Meta and YouTube to go to trial in social media lawsuit – WGEM

QUINCY (WGEM) – Woman in California sues TikTok, Snap Inc., YouTube and Meta over claims of mental health issues relating to the sites. Tuesday was jury trial in a landmark case against Meta and YouTube by a 20-year old woman from California. TikTok and Snap Inc., the company that runs Snapchat, were also sued but settled before trial. The woman, who has only been identified by the name K.G.M. in the lawsuit, claimed the four social media sites caused her to have depression and anxiety as a minor. “[Social media] certainly does activate the parts of the brain that’s part of the reward circuitry of your brain,” said Dr. Daniel Boeder, a child psychiatrist at Blessing Hospital. Boeder said social media has become a major factor in his dealings with young patients. “I’ve incorporated it in my usual initial evaluation of kids. That’s how significant it’s gotten,” he added. He explained abusing social media shares similarities with substance abuse disorder, most notably regarding withdrawal symptoms. “Sometimes changes in mood, irritability, anger, sometimes sadness, anxiety, fear of missing out, honestly,” said Boeder. For parents, Boeder said it can be hard for them to relate to their children’s reliance on social media.
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