Zuckerberg defends Meta in landmark social media addiction trial

Source: BBC Technology

Meta’s CEO Testifies in Los Angeles Social‑Media Addiction Trial

Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Instagram‑owner Meta Platforms, appeared before a Los Angeles jury on Wednesday to defend the company against claims that it deliberately targeted young users. He argued that lawyers were “mischaracterising” internal communications presented as evidence in the landmark case.

The trial also names Google’s YouTube as a defendant, while TikTok and Snapchat settled shortly before the trial began (terms undisclosed). Meta repeatedly asserts that it has taken steps to protect users under 13 years of age.

Internal Documents Presented by Plaintiffs

Lead plaintiff’s lawyer Mark Lanier, representing a minor identified only by the initials K.G.M., introduced a series of internal emails, messages, and research:

• 2019 email to Zuckerberg and three top executives highlighted concerns about “unenforced” age limits.

  “That made it difficult to claim we’re doing all we can,” the email from Nick Clegg (Meta’s former head of global affairs) read.

• Research report commissioned by an outside firm for Instagram found that teens felt “hooked despite how it makes them feel” and described an “addict’s narrative about their Instagram use.”

  “It can make them feel good, it can feel bad, they wish they could spend less time caring about it,” the report said.

• 2018 presentation showed discussion of retaining “tweens” on the platform, despite public claims that such users were prohibited.

• 2015 email from Zuckerberg set a goal of a 12 % increase in time spent and a reversal of the “teen trend.”

• 2017 email from an executive stated, “Mark has decided the top priority for the company is teens.”

Zuckerberg’s Responses

• Expressed regret for not moving faster to identify users under 13, but said Meta eventually reached the “right place over time.”
• Claimed teen users generate less than 1 % of Meta’s ad revenue and accused Lanier of taking documents out of context.
• Referenced internal discussions about creating regulated versions of products for children under 13, citing Messenger Kids as an example, though he admitted it was “not very popular” and that he uses it with his own children.
• Asserted that Meta has had “various discussions” about building child‑safe versions of its services.
• When pressed about “problematic use,” said Meta has worked for years to address it because “it’s the right thing to do.”
• Schmidt highlighted Instagram tools released in 2018 (daily‑use limits, alerts, night‑time notification controls). Lanier later pointed out that only 1.1 % of teen users actually employed the daily‑use limit.

Parental Voices and Public Reaction

• K.G.M., who began using Instagram at nine, sat across from Zuckerberg in the courtroom.
• Bereaved parents, including Lori Schott, whose daughter Annalee died by suicide at 18, attended the proceedings. Schott wore a badge with her daughter’s photo and said outside the court:

  “It wouldn’t take long to change the algorithmic content so kids aren’t killing themselves. Is it that hard to do, Mr. Zuckerberg?”

Trial Outlook

• The case is expected to last several weeks and will include testimony from former Meta employees.
• YouTube CEO Neal Mohan was initially slated to appear but will not be called, according to the BBC.
• Instagram head Adam Mosseri challenged the notion of social‑media addiction, citing a 16‑hour Instagram usage example that did not constitute addiction.
• Zuckerberg remarked that valuable products tend to be used more, while Lanier countered that addiction often leads to increased use.

  “I don’t know what to say to that,” Zuckerberg replied. “I think that may be true but I don’t know if that applies here.”

Support Resources

If you’ve been affected by issues involving suicide or feelings of despair, help is available:

• BBC Action Line – UK‑based support.
• Befrienders Worldwide – International assistance.

Wider Legal and Regulatory Landscape

• The lawsuit is one of many filed by families, state prosecutors, and school districts across the United States, alleging that platforms such as Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube operate in an addictive manner that harms children.
• In a separate case, 29 state attorneys general are urging a California federal court to force Meta to delete all accounts known to belong to users under 13 years of age.
• Internationally, countries are moving to restrict youth social‑media use: Australia banned accounts for those under 16 last year, and the UK, Denmark, France, and Spain are considering similar measures.