Alexis Spence develops eating disorder at 12 after Instagram algorithm, testifies before Senate as Meta addiction trial plaintiff

Summary

Alexis Spence of Long Island, New York began using Instagram at age 11 by falsely entering a 13+ age, and the platform's algorithm exposed her to pro-anorexia content that contributed to an eating disorder developing by age 12. Alexis was one of several victims featured in coverage of the Social Media Adolescent Addiction MDL and has become a prominent plaintiff voice. Her case was cited in congressional testimony about the harms of social media design features to minors. The Spence family's lawsuit alleges that Instagram's algorithmic design was the proximate cause of Alexis's eating disorder, which required ongoing treatment.