Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Testify in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify on Wednesday in a landmark social media addiction trial taking place in California. The case involves a plaintiff who alleges that Instagram and other platforms were intentionally designed to make young users addicted to their services.
High-Profile Witness in Critical Legal Battle
The 41-year-old executive, whose company owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is considered the most high-profile witness in this significant legal proceeding. This trial represents the first in a series of lawsuits brought by American families against major social media companies, and its outcome could help shape the legal direction for thousands of similar claims that have been filed across the country.
This will mark the first time Zuckerberg addresses the safety of Meta's platforms directly before a jury. His reputation has hovered over the proceedings since jury selection began, during which Meta's legal team sought to exclude California residents viewed as overly hostile toward the tech billionaire.
Jury to Consider Platform Responsibility for Mental Health Issues
Jurors in Los Angeles are expected to hear testimony through late March as they consider whether Google-owned YouTube and Meta's Instagram bear responsibility for mental health issues suffered by Kaley G.M., a 20-year-old California resident who has used social media heavily since childhood.
According to court filings, Kaley began using YouTube at age six, joined Instagram at 11, and later used TikTok and Snapchat extensively. The central question before the jury is whether Google and Meta deliberately structured their platforms, including algorithms and personalization features, to encourage compulsive use among young people, potentially harming their mental health in the process.
Establishing Legal Standards for Social Media Harm Claims
This case, along with two similar trials scheduled for later this year in Los Angeles, seeks to establish a legal standard for resolving thousands of lawsuits alleging that social media has contributed to rising rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicide among young people across the United States.
The trial focuses specifically on app design and platform features, as US law generally shields companies from liability related to user-generated content. TikTok and Snapchat, which were also named in the original complaint, reached confidential settlements with the plaintiff before the trial began.
Earlier Testimony and Emotional Proceedings
Earlier this month, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified and rejected the label of social media addiction, preferring the term "problematic use" instead. "I'm sure I've said that I was addicted to a Netflix show when I binged it really late one night, but I don't think that's the same thing as clinical addiction," Mosseri told jurors during his testimony.
Some family members of teenagers who died by suicide attended the hearing and reacted emotionally to the testimony presented in court. The plaintiff's legal team also called psychiatrist Anna Lembke, who described how social media could act as a "gateway drug" for young users by influencing brain development and reinforcing addictive behaviors.
Internal Company Discussions Revealed
During questioning, Mosseri was asked about internal emails concerning cosmetic surgery filters on Instagram. He defended Zuckerberg's 2020 decision to keep the filters, despite objections from some executives who warned they could negatively affect young girls' self-image. Company officials were reportedly concerned about losing market share to competitors such as TikTok if they removed these features.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan had been expected to testify but was later replaced by another YouTube executive, according to the plaintiff's lawyers. The Los Angeles trial is unfolding alongside a separate nationwide case before a federal judge in Oakland, California, which could lead to another trial in 2026.
Additional Legal Challenges for Meta
Separately, Meta is also facing trial in New Mexico, where prosecutors allege the company prioritized profits over protecting minors from sexual predators on its platforms. This expanding legal landscape represents significant challenges for social media companies as they navigate increasing scrutiny over their impact on young users' mental health and wellbeing.
