Computers & internet

Tech CEOs Ordered to Testify in Youth Social Media Harm Trial

Published OCT 22 2025

Story

Above: Mark Zuckerberg during the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 17, 2025. Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl has ordered Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and Instagram head Adam Mosseri to testify in a January trial concerning social media's impact on young users.
ChosunBiz
Engadget
Enjuris on X
The trial represents the first of approximately 4,000 consolidated lawsuits alleging that social media companies intentionally designed platforms to be addictive to children, despite being aware of potential mental health risks.
The Tech Buzz
Bloomberg Law
Judge Kuhl rejected arguments from Meta and Snap that executive testimony was unnecessary, stating that CEO knowledge of harms and failure to prevent them could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct.
Mlex
CNBC
BBC News
The plaintiffs claim social media companies lack effective parental controls and use notification systems for likes and responses that keep young people tied to platforms, causing anxiety, depression and physical impairments.
ChosunBiz
News.az
Meta argued that requiring executive testimony would interfere with business operations and set a precedent for future trials, while Snap's legal team called the testimony order an abuse of discretion.
The Tech Buzz
Social Media Today
NewsBytes
If plaintiffs prevail in these cases, settlements worth billions of dollars could reportedly result, similar to past tobacco company lawsuits, potentially bringing significant changes to how minors use social media platforms.
El Balad
ChosunBiz

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Tech CEOs must finally face accountability for deliberately engineering addictive features that harm children's mental health. This landmark trial represents a seismic shift — corporate leaders can no longer hide behind legal shields when their firms cause addiction and psychological damage.

PhoneWorld

Narrative B

Forcing CEOs to testify won't have a meaningful impact since platforms already have age restrictions and there's no definitive evidence proving social media causes harm to teens. The real challenge is enforcement — current age limits can't be accurately implemented without universal standards.

Social Media Today