Zuckerberg to Testify in US Trial Over Social Media Addiction Claims

Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify this week in a closely watched social media addiction trial in Los Angeles that examines whether major platforms were deliberately designed to be addictive for young users.

The case is among the first US court cases to directly question a tech chief executive over alleged harm caused by platform design.

The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old plaintiff who claims she began using YouTube and Instagram during childhood and developed compulsive usage patterns that affected her mental health.

• Zuckerberg to testify in landmark social media addiction trial
• Meta faces claims over teen mental health and platform design
• US court examines algorithms and youth addiction allegations

Her legal team argues that recommendation algorithms, notifications, and engagement-driven features encouraged prolonged use despite known risks to teenagers.

Lawyers for the plaintiff say internal company research showed awareness of the impact of excessive social media use on minors, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption. They contend that changes were not made quickly or forcefully enough because engagement directly affected advertising revenue.

Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, denies the allegations. The company maintains that its products are not addictive by clinical standards and that it has invested heavily in safety tools, parental controls, and content moderation aimed at protecting younger users. Meta’s defence is expected to argue that responsibility for usage habits is shared among platforms, parents, and users themselves.

Zuckerberg’s testimony is expected to focus on Meta’s design decisions, internal discussions about youth engagement, and the balance between user growth and safety. Legal experts say his appearance signals the seriousness of the case and could influence juries in similar lawsuits pending across the country.

The trial forms part of a broader legal push by families and state authorities seeking stronger regulation of social media companies. Its outcome may affect future rules governing platforms widely used by children and teenagers.

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The verdict could set an important precedent on whether platform design choices can be treated as a direct cause of psychological harm.