(Image source from: Today.com)

Mark Zuckerberg will testify in a groundbreaking social media trial that examines if Meta's platforms purposely make children addicted and cause them harm. The CEO of Meta is anticipated to face tough inquiries on Wednesday from lawyers representing a now 20-year-old woman known as KGM. She asserts that her early use of social media made her attached to the technology and increased her feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts. In this case, Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube are the last two defendants, while TikTok and Snap have already settled. Zuckerberg has previously given evidence in other trials and has been questioned by Congress regarding youth safety on Meta's platforms. He expressed regret to families at a hearing who felt their lives had been disrupted by tragedies linked to social media. However, this trial is unique because it is the first occasion where Zuckerberg will respond to similar inquiries in front of a jury. Bereaved parents are likely to fill some of the limited public seating in the courtroom.

This case, along with two others, is chosen as a bellwether trial, meaning its result could influence how many similar lawsuits against social media companies progress. A Meta representative stated that the company strongly opposes the claims in the lawsuit, asserting they are “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people. ” One of Meta's lawyers, Paul Schmidt, mentioned in his opening statement that while the company acknowledges KGM faced mental health issues, it contests that Instagram was a major contributing factor to these challenges. He highlighted medical documents that indicated a troubled home environment, and both he and a lawyer for YouTube suggested that KGM used their platforms as a way to cope or escape her mental health problems.

Zuckerberg's testimony follows that of Adam Mosseri, who leads Meta's Instagram. Mosseri expressed in court that he disagrees with the notion of people being clinically addicted to social media platforms. He asserted that Instagram works diligently to safeguard young users and stated that it’s “not beneficial for the company, in the long run, to make choices that profit us but harm people’s well-being. " Much of Mosseri's interrogation by the plaintiff's attorney, Mark Lanier, focused on cosmetic filters on Instagram that alter users’ appearances, a subject Lanier is expected to bring up again with Zuckerberg. He is also anticipated to encounter questions concerning Instagram’s algorithm, the endless nature of Meta's feeds, and other aspects that the plaintiffs argue are designed to keep users engaged. Additionally, Meta is involved in a different trial in New Mexico that started last week.