By Elsie Kamsiyochi
LOS ANGELES — Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to face questioning in a U.S. courtroom for the first time this week over allegations that Instagram harmed the mental health of young users, as a closely watched jury trial unfolds in California.
The testimony marks a pivotal moment in a case that could reshape how technology companies are held accountable for the well-being of children and teenagers on their platforms.
While Zuckerberg has previously addressed lawmakers in congressional hearings on similar topics, this appearance carries significantly higher stakes. Unlike Capitol Hill testimony, the Los Angeles jury trial could expose Meta to substantial financial damages and weaken long-standing legal protections that have shielded social media companies from liability for user harm.
At the center of the case is a lawsuit brought by a California woman who says she began using Instagram and YouTube as a child. She alleges that Meta and Google deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive, prioritizing profits over safety despite internal knowledge that heavy social media use could negatively affect young users’ mental health.
According to the complaint, prolonged exposure to these apps worsened her depression and contributed to suicidal thoughts.
Meta and Google have strongly denied the allegations. Both companies argue that they have invested heavily in safety tools, parental controls, and content moderation to protect young users.
Meta has repeatedly cited findings from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences indicating that existing research does not conclusively show that social media causes changes in children’s mental health.
Nevertheless, the lawsuit is unfolding against the backdrop of a growing global backlash over youth social media use. Governments worldwide are moving to impose stricter regulations.
Australia has enacted a ban on social media access for users under 16, while countries such as Spain are debating similar measures. In the United States, Florida has passed legislation prohibiting social media companies from allowing children under 14 to create accounts, a law currently being challenged by technology industry trade groups.
Legal experts say the California case is particularly significant because it is serving as a test trial for thousands of similar lawsuits filed across the country.
Families, school districts, and state governments have sued not only Meta and Google, but also companies such as Snap and TikTok, accusing them of fueling a nationwide youth mental health crisis through addictive design features.
Zuckerberg is expected to be questioned extensively about Meta’s internal research and executive discussions concerning Instagram’s impact on younger users.
Past investigative reporting has revealed internal company documents suggesting Meta was aware of potential harms. One internal analysis found that teenagers who said Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies were more likely to encounter content related to eating disorders.
Adding to the scrutiny, Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified last week that he was unaware of a more recent Meta study indicating no clear link between parental supervision and teens’ attentiveness to their own social media habits.
That study, shown to jurors, suggested that teenagers facing difficult life circumstances were more likely to use Instagram compulsively or without clear intent.
Meta’s legal team has countered that the plaintiff’s mental health struggles stem from a troubled childhood rather than social media use. In court, the company’s lawyer argued that Instagram served as a creative outlet rather than a source of harm and pointed to the woman’s medical records to support that claim.
As Zuckerberg prepares to take the stand, observers across the technology, legal, and public health sectors are watching closely.
A verdict against Meta could set a powerful precedent, potentially opening the door to greater liability for social media companies and accelerating regulatory efforts worldwide.
Regardless of the outcome, the trial underscores a broader reckoning over how digital platforms shape the lives and mental health of the next generation.
Source Reuters
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