Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday arriving at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse to 4testify in a 5landmark trial about 6tech addiction.
"Mark, do you have a message for the parents?"
Among those awaiting Zuckerberg's arrival parents 7calling for accountability for Meta following years of concerns about the impact of Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram on youth mental health and safety.
"They take a 8vulnerable child, but all kids are vulnerable; their 9self-esteem and what girls face, especially on these platforms, is horrifying to have to go through that, and it really has created such a huge mental health crisis in this country.."
In the Los Angeles trial, Meta and YouTube 10are accused of 11intentionally designing addictive features that 12hooked a now 20-year-old woman named in court documents only as "Kaylee" as a child harming her mental health.
TikTok and Snapchat were also named in the 13lawsuit. They settled before trial.
Former Facebook employee turned 14whistleblower Frances Haugen says Zuckerberg's testimony about what Meta has known about the risks of its platforms on young people15 puts a lot on the line for his company.
"If they take responsibility, then they're going to have to change their business model and how they do business."
Meta argues it was Kaylee's difficult family life, not social media, that led to her struggles. YouTube has also 16denied the lawsuit's 17claims.
