Zuckerberg, Mosseri and Spiegel ordered to testify in child social media safety trial

In a significant legal development, Meta Platforms' CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been ordered to take the stand in a groundbreaking trial examining the negative impacts of social media on children. A ruling from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl on Monday also mandates that Snap's CEO Evan Spiegel and Instagram's head Adam Mosseri join him in testifying during this pivotal case, which is set to begin in January. Judge Kuhl emphasized the importance of CEO testimonies, stating that their insights into potential harms and the lack of preventative measures could be crucial in establishing negligence. She noted that the allegations suggest social media companies have not adequately warned users about features designed to foster addictive and compulsive behaviors among younger audiences. This trial is part of a broader wave of litigation targeting social media tech firms, accusing them of intentionally developing platforms that contribute to mental health issues in children. Recently, New York City filed its own lawsuit against several companies, claiming that their addictive designs exacerbate these problems. Earlier this year, Zuckerberg, along with other industry leaders, appeared before a Senate hearing to discuss the protection of children from social media-related harms. In response to the trial, Meta sought to prevent both Zuckerberg and Mosseri from testifying, arguing that it would interfere with their business operations and could set a concerning precedent for future cases. Meanwhile, Snap contended that compelling Spiegel to testify would be an overreach of judicial authority.