SANTA FE, N.M. – In a significant legal development, prosecutors in New Mexico have begun presenting previously unseen video depositions of key Meta executives during a trial, aiming to substantiate claims that the social media giant has been negligent in revealing the adverse effects its platforms, including Instagram, have on children.

The state’s legal team has positioned these depositions, featuring Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, as pivotal to their case. The allegations center on Meta’s purported breach of state consumer protection laws, with prosecutors arguing that the company failed to adequately address or disclose the risks of social media addiction and child exploitation on its platforms.

During opening statements on February 9, Meta’s attorney, Kevin Huff, countered these claims. He underscored the company’s ongoing efforts to remove harmful content and cautioned that while Meta strives to maintain a safe environment, some risky content can still bypass its safeguards. Huff insisted that Meta is transparent about the potential dangers.

This case in New Mexico, along with another trial unfolding in Los Angeles, could serve as a bellwether for thousands of pending lawsuits targeting social media firms for similar grievances.

In related proceedings, Zuckerberg recently testified in Los Angeles, addressing inquiries regarding young users’ interactions with Instagram. He has also been questioned by Congress on issues concerning youth safety across Meta’s platforms.

Zuckerberg testified last month in Los Angeles about young people’s use of Instagram and has answered questions from Congress about youth safety on Meta’s platforms.

During his 2024 congressional testimony, he apologized to families whose lives had been upended by tragedies they believed were caused by social media. But while he told parents he was “sorry for everything you have all been through,” he stopped short of taking direct responsibility for it.

Mosseri testified at the California trial that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms.