Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Meta Platforms and founder of Facebook, is set to face questioning in a United States court for the first time over Instagram’s impact on young users’ mental health.
The testimony comes as a landmark jury trial unfolds in Los Angeles, where Meta could face financial damages if it loses. Observers say the verdict may also weaken long standing legal protections that technology companies have relied on to defend against claims of user harm.
Landmark Trial Over Youth Addiction
The case centres on allegations that Instagram contributed to youth social media addiction and harmed children’s mental health. Although Zuckerberg has previously addressed similar concerns before Congress, the stakes now appear significantly higher.
The lawsuit forms part of a broader global backlash against social media platforms. Governments in Australia and Spain have barred users under 16 from accessing social media. Meanwhile, the U.S. state of Florida has prohibited companies from allowing children under 14 to join such platforms. Technology trade groups are challenging that law in court.
Allegations Of Harm
At the centre of the Los Angeles trial is a California woman who began using Instagram and YouTube, owned by Google, during childhood. She claims the companies deliberately sought to profit by encouraging prolonged use among young users despite knowing about potential mental health risks.
According to her lawsuit, the apps fuelled her depression and suicidal thoughts. She now seeks to hold both companies legally responsible.
Meta and Google have denied the allegations. They argue that they have introduced safety features to protect users and support wellbeing. Meta has also cited findings from the National Academies of Sciences stating that research does not demonstrate a direct link between social media and changes in children’s mental health.
Wider Legal Implications
The trial serves as a test case among thousands of similar lawsuits filed across the United States. Families, school districts and state authorities have accused companies including Meta, Google, Snap and TikTok of contributing to a youth mental health crisis.
Zuckerberg is expected to face questions about Meta’s internal research and discussions concerning Instagram’s effects on younger users. Last week, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, testified that he was unaware of a recent Meta study suggesting no link between parental supervision and teenagers’ attentiveness to their social media use.
The document presented in court indicated that teenagers facing difficult life circumstances more frequently reported habitual or unintentional use of Instagram.
Meanwhile, Meta’s lawyer told jurors that the woman’s medical records point to a troubled childhood as the root of her struggles. The defence argued that social media provided her with a creative outlet rather than causing harm.
As the proceedings continue, the outcome may shape how courts address claims that social media platforms bear responsibility for the wellbeing of young users.
With inputs from Reuters
