Chciago – October 21, 2025
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, has been ordered to testify in a landmark trial set for January 2026 concerning the impact of social media on young users’ mental health. The trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court will also require testimony from Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel.
The lawsuits accuse these social media giants of knowingly creating addictive platforms that exploit young people’s vulnerabilities while neglecting necessary safety measures. Parents and school districts consolidated claims alleging insufficient parental controls and harmful engagement tactics such as notifications engineered to keep youth hooked.
Judge Carolyn Kuhl rejected motions by Meta and others to quash the trial testimony, emphasizing that CEO-level insights are vital to assessing negligence. She highlighted that understanding executives’ awareness of potential harms and their failure to act is key to the case.
Social media companies have disputed the claims, citing federal protections and prior testimonies, but the trial marks a significant moment in holding tech leaders personally accountable for the societal effects of their platforms. This case signals growing legal scrutiny over social media’s role in youth mental health challenges.
