Therapist Dr. Burke Testifies in Social Media Addiction Case Against Instagram and YouTube

Court Proceedings The Los Angeles County Superior Court is awaiting testimony from Kaley, whose identity is being kept confidential, on Thursday.
Therapist's Testimony Dr.
Burke, who worked as a trainee therapist with Kaley when she was 13 in 2019, stated that he provided therapy for several months.
He initially diagnosed her with generalized anxiety disorder, later revising the diagnosis to social phobia and body dysmorphic disorder.
Burke also argued that Kaley’s use of online platforms contributed to depression and distorted body image.
Defenses from Meta and YouTube Meta’s attorney highlighted Kaley’s history of verbal and physical abuse and her parents’ early divorce.
YouTube’s lawyer contended that Kaley did not use protective tools such as comment removal or screen‑time limits.
Review Criteria According to court records, Kaley’s average daily viewing time on YouTube Shorts was 1 minute 14 seconds, and her average time spent on YouTube videos over the past five years was about 29 minutes.
Legal Debate Lawyers argue that auto‑play, infinite scroll, and the “like” button are designed to keep users on the platform, while beauty filters distort self‑perception.
The case is a key test of whether tech companies’ app designs directly affect young users’ mental health.