Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify on Wednesday in a California court in a landmark social media lawsuit questioning whether features on his company’s platforms harm children or foster addiction.
Zuckerberg will appear before a jury and the families of children who have died, who claim that social media use contributed to their tragedies. He has previously apologized to families during a U.S. Congress hearing, acknowledging the profound impact of social media on young users’ lives.
The trial will examine Instagram’s algorithm and app features, which the plaintiff argues were intentionally designed to keep young users addicted.
The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old identified as KGM, who claims that her use of Meta and Google platforms during childhood led to technology addiction and worsened her depressive thoughts and suicidal tendencies.
This case comes amid increasing European scrutiny over age restrictions on major social media platforms like Meta and Google to protect children from harmful online content.
The plaintiff alleges that the companies used deliberate design choices, akin to gambling techniques, to make platforms more addictive for children, ultimately increasing profits.
Legal experts note that this case is seen as a “landmark trial” in the U.S., potentially influencing future lawsuits against tech giants and prompting new regulations for child protection online, both in the United States and Europe.
