Zuckerberg to testify in court case involving social media addiction allegations

Zuckerberg will testify on Wednesday in a landmark trial in Los Angeles, accusing major social media platforms of being “deliberately designed to addict children and teenagers.” The case was heard last Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with the plaintiff alleging that Meta Platforms (META.O) and YouTube (a Google subsidiary) engaged in tortious conduct. The plaintiffs claim that these two companies knowingly developed features that encourage young users to become addicted, resulting in long-term mental health damage. The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman named Kelly and her mother, who allege that Kelly was exposed to addictive design features during childhood. Her lawyer stated that Kelly has been addicted to social media apps since age six. She said that features like auto-scrolling made her addicted to these platforms, ultimately leading to anxiety, depression, and body image concerns.