Landmark case tests legal shield for tech giants
Meta Platforms CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will testify in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday as a jury trial over Instagram’s impact on young users’ mental health intensifies. The case marks the first time Zuckerberg will answer such allegations before a jury, raising the stakes for the social media giant.
Although Zuckerberg has previously addressed Congress on similar concerns, this trial in California carries financial and legal consequences. If the jury rules against Meta, the company could face damages and see its long-standing legal protections against user harm claims weakened.
The lawsuit forms part of a broader global backlash against social media platforms. Australia has banned users under 16 from accessing social media, while Spain is weighing similar restrictions. In the United States, Florida has barred companies from allowing children under 14 to create accounts, though industry groups are challenging that law in court.
Plaintiff alleges platforms fueled depression
The case centers on a California woman who began using Instagram and YouTube as a child. She claims Meta and Google knowingly designed addictive features to hook young users despite understanding potential mental health risks. She argues that the platforms worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts and seeks to hold the companies liable.
Meta and Google deny the allegations. They highlight safety tools introduced for teens and cite a National Academies of Sciences report that found no conclusive evidence linking social media use to changes in children’s mental health.
Meanwhile, internal Meta documents revealed by investigative reporting show researchers identified potential harms. Zuckerberg is expected to face questions about those findings and company discussions regarding Instagram’s effects on younger users.
